LaRoyce Hawkins has been a fan favorite since he debuted his character Kevin Atwater in the series premiere in 2014.

Chicago P.D. faces shake-up as original cast member makes shocking season 14 exit

LaRoyce Hawkins has been a fan favorite since he debuted his character Kevin Atwater in the series premiere in 2014.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

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July 2, 2026 4:12 p.m. ET

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LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater on 'Chicago P.D.'. Credit:

- Original *Chicago P.D. *cast member LaRoyce Hawkins is set to make his exit from the crime procedrual in the upcoming 14th season, *Deadline* reports.

- Hawkins has played his fan-favorite character Kevin Atwater since the series debuted in 2014.

- *Chicago P.D.* season 14 premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

*Chicago P.D.* mainstay LaRoyce Hawkins is making his exit in the upcoming 14th season, *Deadline* reports.

Hawkins, who has played Officer Kevin Atwater since the NBC drama debuted in 2014, will reportedly wrap Kevin's storyline within the first two or three episodes of the new season, the outlet reports. Since the new season premieres on Oct. 7, that means fans can expect to say goodbye to the fan-favorite character on the Oct. 14 or 21 episode.

The series is said to be casting for a new series regular amid Hawkins' exit, a Black cop who is an agent of chaos.

A rep for NBC had no comment when ** reached out for confirmation.

LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater on 'Chicago P.D.'.

Hawkins' departure marks another exit from an OG cast member on a series that has seen many actors come and go. While stars like Jason Beghe, Patrick John Flueger, and Marina Squerciati have stayed on the show from the start, others like Jon Seda and Sophia Bush have chosen to leave to explore new opportunities.

Hawkins' costars Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos also recently exited the show — but returned for a crossover special with *Chicago Fire* and *Chicago Med* earlier this year.

"There’s something about Jay and Chicago that’s always going to be in my DNA," Soffer, who has also directed a few episodes since leaving the show, told EW for an exclusive look at the crossover back in February. "Coming back felt natural. I was excited to see where he is now, and I’m grateful I got the chance to honor how much that character means to me."

The three-episode crossover marked the first on-screen appearance of Soffer's Jay Halstead since season 10 and Spiridakos' Hailey Upton since she left at the end of season 11.

"Coming back to *Chicago* feels like coming home," Spiridakos added. "I loved getting to see where Hailey has ended up and being reunited with the cast and crew (from all three shows)! It was my absolute highlight. I am thrilled for fans to see our three-hour-long adventure, along with an Upstead reunion."

One Chicago stars Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos reunite in first look at crossover (exclusive)

'Chicago P.D.' cast, then and now: See how the stars have changed over 13 seasons

As for Hawkins, his departure isn't a complete surprise for fans of the series that have been carefully keeping track of his storyline.

Fans have been long hoping that Hawkins' Atwater would find someone equally as wonderful as him to settle down with, and season 13 saw him reconnect with an old friend, Officer Tasha Fox (Karen Obilom). While things quickly turned romantic, the romance had a looming end date as Fox had to leave Chicago to take a job in Miami shortly after their reunion.

Atwater spent most of season 13 wrestling with his feelings for Fox from a distance — until she showed back up at his doorstep with surprising news: she was pregnant with their child.

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Given that major development in Atwater's personal life, Hawkins' exit is most likely a sign that the character will be following his heart and his growing family to Miami. While it may feel abrupt for some, the choice does leave an open door for Hawkins and Atwater to make a return sometime down the line.

*Chicago P.D.* season 14 premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

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Source: “EW TV”