LaRoyce Hawkins will leave NBC’s police drama Chicago PD during its 14th season, leaving her as a series regular.
According to Deadline’s sources, the 38-year-old actor, who has played Kevin Atwater since the show’s premiere in 2014, will return to “wrap up” Atwater’s storyline in the first few episodes of the upcoming season 14.
The show is currently searching for a new series regular, described by Deadline as “a black cop who is an agent of chaos,” according to the network.
Representatives for Wolf Entertainment, which produces the One Chicago TV series alongside Universal Television, could not be reached for comment by Page Six on Thursday.
In recent years, the show has lost many original cast members, including Tracy Spiridakos, who played Detective Haley Upton in 2024, and Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Jay Halstead, who left the show in 2022.
On Monday, the actor and Wolf Entertainment shared a joint clip of an interview in which the actor was asked what it was like to “get the call” to join the cast of the long-running series.
“It was amazing,” Hawkins said. “It was like my prayers were answered.” At the time, Hawkins recalled, “it felt like something was about to happen.”
In the comment thread, fans lamented reports that Hawkins would be leaving the show, with one person writing, “Please tell me that’s not true, what I just read!!!”
Another threatened: “This guy is so energetic!!! If he’s not on PD I’m not watching,” while a third said: “Heartbroken.”
Hawkins, who also had a recurring role on HBO Max’s Southside and appeared in the BET+ film North of the 10, previously talked about what he learned from playing Atwater.
“I’ve had some great roles and I’ve been able to learn from them all in different ways,” he told People in 2025.
“But the longevity and consistency I learned from Kevin Atwater really boosted my confidence more than anything.”
Hawkins also said, “The nature of the role, being a first responder, being the only black officer on the force, it’s honestly a combination of so many things that really contributed to me feeling very confident and grateful for my skill set over time.”
She added, “I think being on this show for so long has given me the time and space to learn and grow. And I feel much more confident and comfortable in front of the camera now.”
