Chicago PD's LaRoyce Hawkins exits NBC drama after 13 years

LaRoyce Hawkins is stepping down from Chicago PD.

HELLO! can confirm that the long-time One Chicago star, who has played Kevin Atwater for 13 seasons, will leave the show during the upcoming 14th season, and viewers will see his character arc wrap up in the first few episodes. 

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Deadline first reported the news. NBC has refused to comment.

In season 13, fans saw Kevin reconnect with his former police academy colleague, Officer Tasha Fox, but she moved to Miami. She later returned to Chicago to tell Kwevin sh was pregnant, and they were last seen navigating how to balance their careers and raise their child together.  

The news of his departure suggests that they may decide to leave Chicago enntirely, even though Tasha told Kevin she hated living in Miami.

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LaRoyce is one of the original cast members. Across the 13 seasons, viewers have seen him become involved in a racially charged controversy after the accidental shooting of a young boy. He also served as the legal guardian for his younger siblings before deciding to send them to Texas for a more stable childhood, and he has been shot in the line of fire.

He was partnered with Officer Kim Burgess before both joined the Intelligence Unit.

© NBC

Deadline also reports that PD bosses are now looking to cast "a new series regular, a Black cop who is an agent of chaos".

The Chicago franchise launched in 2012 with Chicago Fire, starring Taylor Kinney. A year later, Chicago PD premiered following the crew of the Intelligence Unit, and in 2015, the franchise grew when Chicago Med premiered, focusing on the doctors and nurses of the fictional Gaffney Medical Center in Chicago.

LaRoyce has appeared on all three shows.

© Lori Allen/NBC

His exit comes after Toya Turner left Chicago P.D. after playing Officer Kiana Cook for one season. Arienne Mandi joined as a new series regular for season 13, in the role of Officer Eva Imani.

In recent years, major longtime cast members, including Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos have also exited the cop drama, although both returned for a huge One Chicago crossover event in 2026.

The 13th season of Chicago PD focused on the squad handling personal crises, including Ruzek's (played by Patrick Flueger) father's death, the investigations into police conspiracy by Torres (played by Benjamin Levy Aguilar), and the dangerous pursuit of Officer Imani's missing sister.