A major cast departure reshaped Chicago P.D. in Season 14, Episode 2, as Officer Kevin Atwater officially left the Intelligence Unit. After spending over a decade on the streets of the Windy City, Atwater decided to step away from active tactical fieldwork to prioritize raising his newborn son, Malcolm, alongside Tasha Fox.
As reported by NBC Insider, Atwater accepted a teaching job at the police academy in Atlanta. This pivotal transition marks the end of LaRoyce Hawkins’ 14-year run as a series regular. However, showrunner Gwen Sigan and the writers deliberately crafted an organic, positive send-off that leaves the door open for future guest appearances.
The Turning Point: Family, Fear, and a Dangerous Case
The episode, titled “Don’t Blink” and directed by former series regular Jesse Lee Soffer, opened with Atwater and Tasha welcoming their son and settling into parenthood. Returning to active duty immediately brought intense friction between domestic responsibilities and demanding police operations. During an investigation into a violent string of gaming machine robberies, Atwater received a stressful call from Tasha informing him that baby Malcolm had been hospitalized with an ear infection.
The personal stakes escalated drastically during a high-speed criminal pursuit when Atwater was shot in the chest. While his bulletproof vest successfully absorbed the impact, the close brush with death forced him to reevaluate the physical risks of his career. The case concluded on a somber note after officers discovered that a suspect’s son had been killed, prompting the suspect to lament missing out on his child’s formative years due to work.
Choosing Atlanta Over a Chicago Promotion
Initially, Atwater approached Sergeant Hank Voight regarding promotion prospects within the Chicago Police Department to better provide for his growing family. Voight informed him that no immediate opening was available without a major administrative overhaul.
Later in the episode, the impending retirement of Sergeant Nolan opened up the exact promotion Atwater had requested. However, Atwater realized that a higher rank would still demand long hours away from home. When he admitted he wanted a way to serve the community while maintaining schedule flexibility, Voight offered an alternative: a connection in Atlanta was actively seeking experienced officers to teach at the police academy, featuring high pay and reduced casework pressure.
“There are a lot of ways to be good police,” Voight told him during their conversation, encouraging the move.
