LaRoyce Hawkins is leaving NBC police procedural “Chicago P.D.” during its 14th season, stepping away from the show as a series regular.
According to sources for Deadline, the 38-year-old actor — who has been playing Kevin Atwater since the show’s premiere back in 2014 — will return to “wrap up” Atwater’s storyline in the first few episodes of the upcoming 14th season.
Per the outlet, the show is currently in search of a new series regular, described by Deadline as “a Black cop who is an agent of chaos.”
A rep for Wolf Entertainment, the company that produces the One Chicago TV franchise alongside Universal Television, was not available to Page Six for comment on Thursday.
In recent years, the show has lost a number of original cast members, including Tracy Spiridakos, who played Detective Hailey Upton, in 2024, and Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Jay Halstead, who stepped away back 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 “getting the call” that he’d be joining the cast of the long-running series.
“It was amazing,” Hawkins responded, noting that it was “almost like prayers had been answered.” Hawkins recalled that he “felt like something was on the way” at the time.
In the comments thread, fans lamented the reports that Hawkins would be exiting the show, with one person writing, “Say it’s not true, what i just read!!!”
Another threatened, “This man is so FINE!!! If he ain’t on PD I ain’t watching,” while a third remarked, “I’m heartbroken.”
Hawkins — who has also had a recurring role in HBO Max’s “South Side” and was featured in BET+ film “North of the 10” — previously shared what he’s learned from his role as Atwater.
“I’ve had some great roles over time and I’ve been able to learn from all of them in different ways,” he told People in 2025.
“But the longevity and the consistency that I’ve been able to create with learning from Kevin Atwater has really strengthened my confidence more than anything.”
Hawkins also shared that the “nature of the role being a first responder, being the only Black cop in the unit, it’s a combination of so many things that, honestly, really contributes to feeling very confident and grateful in my skillset over time.”
He added, “I think the longevity on this show has allowed me just the time and the space to just learn and grow. And I feel so much more confident and comfortable on camera now.”
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