Chicago P.D. Boss Teases Kevin Atwater's Farewell and Baby Arrival After LaRoyce Hawkins Exit

Following the surprise news that LaRoyce Hawkins is leaving Chicago P.D., showrunner Gwen Sigan has offered details on how the long-running NBC police drama will write off his beloved character, Kevin Atwater. The season 14 premiere delivered action alongside a major baby tease, setting the stage for Atwater's upcoming departure after years on the force.

Viewers will officially meet Atwater’s newborn on screen in the upcoming episode after the character received a crucial phone call during the Wednesday, October 7 premiere. The call revealed that his girlfriend, Tasha Fox, played by Karen Obilom, had gone into labor. Showrunner Gwen Sigan shared that audiences will get to witness genuinely nice moments between Atwater and his newly created family unit.

Becoming a biological father marks a pivotal moment for Atwater, who previously stepped up to help raise his younger siblings. Sigan noted that while viewers have seen him act in a fatherly capacity before, welcoming his own child feels entirely different. The upcoming episode will explore moments of stress alongside pure joy as Atwater navigates life with a newborn in the house.

The creative team focused heavily on delivering a fitting conclusion for the character. Sigan praised Hawkins for his performance, noting that the production team worked hard to give him the best send-off possible. Adding a sentimental touch to the milestone episode, former cast member Jesse Lee Soffer returned to direct the installment. Soffer previously played Jay Halstead on the series from 2014 until 2022. Sigan expressed gratitude for having a familiar family member direct the episode, hoping that the effort and love put into production translates on screen.

News of Hawkins exiting the series after a multi-episode run in season 14 has brought emotional reactions from his fellow cast members. Marina Squerciati, who plays Kim Burgess, admitted that she could never truly prepare for Hawkins' departure because he has been her ride-or-die buddy on set. Squerciati noted that while her character respects Atwater's choice to leave the Intelligence unit, she feels differently as a personal friend and colleague. She pointed out that losing Hawkins alters the dynamic for the original core group, which also includes Patrick Flueger as Adam Ruzek, breaking up a tight-knit trio that has been together since day one.

Atwater's journey to fatherhood stems from season 13, when he discovered he was going to be a dad following a brief romance with Tasha. By the end of the previous season, Tasha agreed to relocate to Chicago to give their relationship a chance and coparent their child, leading directly into the current storyline and the character's impending exit.