Chicago P.D. Season 14 gives Kevin Atwater an exit that leaves room for a comeback

**Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for Chicago P.D. Season 14 Episode 2. Reader discretion is advised.**

ChiHards knew Kevin Atwater’s exit was coming, but LaRoyce Hawkins' Chicago P.D. Season 14 farewell still hit hard. The latest episode, titled Don't Blink, marked Hawkins' final appearance after playing Officer Kevin Atwater for more than a decade.

Deadline reported that LaRoyce Hawkins was the latest cast member to exit the procedural after 13 seasons. After the Season 14 premiere quietly set up Atwater's exit, the latest entry revealed what's next for the beloved character, suggesting he could still show up in Windy City in the future. While it's unknown if LaRoyce Hawkins will appear in Chicago P.D. after his exit, his Atlanta job gives fans hope.

Atwater initially hoped to get a promotion after becoming a father. But Chicago P.D. Season 14 revealed that he eventually accepted a job in Atlanta to teach at the Academy. Voight assured him the new job would give him flexibility to take cases and spend time with his family, concluding his arc on a happy note.

Chicago P.D. Season 14 Episode 2: Atwater struggled on the job after becoming a father

According to One Chicago Center, Chicago P.D. Season 14 Episode 2 revealed that Atwater and Tasha welcomed their son at the hospital. The episode began with a montage of the new family spending time with their son as Atwater had taken time off from his job. But when it was time to return, Atwater was anxious about leaving his son. While investigating a string of robberies, he even got a call from Tasha, informing him that their son had an ear infection and was admitted to the hospital. The incident made Atwater more anxious and he struggled to juggle his duties as a new father and an officer.

Things took a turn in Chicago P.D. Season 14 Episode 2 when Atwater and the team tracked down the suspects in the robbery case to a building. During the standoff, Atwater was shot in the chest and Burgess begged him to hold on. Thankfully, the bullet grazed his vest but the moment made him think about his son and the dangers of his job.

To cap off Atwater's fears about his job, the suspect in the robberies, Peter, revealed that he turned to a life of crime because of his son. After Peter's son was found dead, he lamented not being there for him when he wanted him most, which led to Atwater making an important decision about the future of his family.

Atwater's farewell in Chicago P.D. Season 14 gives hope for his return

After the day's event, Atwater confided in Voight, informing him he was looking at a way to do police work while being with his family. The timing was perfect as one of Voight's contacts in Atlanta was looking for a seasoned officer to teach at the Academy. The Atlanta job set up the perfect exit for Atwater, as he would be able to take cases whenever he wanted, spend more time with his family and share his knowledge with the next generation.

Speaking with TV Insider, showrunner Gwen Sigan felt it was the most 'organic' send-off:

"We really wanted to give the best sendoff that we could. Of course, you want it to be very natural for the character. You want it to feel organic. We wanted this to feel like something that hopefully isn't just coming out of left field, that we could take little pieces that maybe were already embedded and just try our best to make it feel as real and authentic for him as possible."

Since Voight assured Atwater he would be able to continue his police work on the cases, the doors for LaRoyce Hawkins' return as a guest star remain open. It remains to be seen how the team will adjust to Atwater's absence in Chicago P.D. Season 14.

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