Chicago P.D. Season 14 premiere quietly sets up Atwater's exit - here's what it means for the team 

'The Three Musketeers' are officially breaking up in Chicago P.D. Season 14 as LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Officer Kevin Atwater, prepares to leave NBC's procedural series after thirteen seasons.

The network's beloved police procedural from the One Chicago franchise returned with its Season 14 premiere on October 7. But the return is bittersweet, as the latest episode set up the exit of Atwater, who will leave the fan-favorite trio of Kim Burgess (played by Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (played by Patrick Flueger) in the upcoming episodes.

Deadline reported that LaRoyce Hawkins, who has played Atwater since the series premiere, will exit in Season 14. While the details of Atwater's exit were kept under wraps, the Chicago P.D. Season 14 premiere teased a major change, which will factor into his exit in the upcoming episodes.

Atwater is about to become a father in Chicago P.D. Season 14

Amidst Eva Imani's devastating decision for her sister Shari and a new problem for Voight, the Chicago P.D. Season 14 premiere set up Atwater's exit. The Season 13 finale revealed that Atwater's girlfriend, Tasha, got pregnant during their brief romance. The couple decided to co-parent their child, which led to Tasha moving from Miami to Chicago.

The Chicago P.D. Season 14 premiere revealed that Tasha was about to go into labor at any moment and Atwater was in full father-mode. It was an interesting setup for a major change in Atwater's life and a tease about Hawkins' exit. Moments after Atwater wrapped up his latest case with Ruzek, Imani and Burgess, he received a call from Tasha, informing him about their baby's arrival. This sprang Atwater into action and he left with Ruzek for the hospital.

While fans were worried about Atwater's fate ahead of the Chicago P.D. Season 14 premiere, it looks like he will leave Intelligence after becoming a father. Speaking with Us Weekly, showrunner Gwen Sigan said they decided on the best and most 'organic' send-off for the character as he enters a new chapter of his life with Tasha and their baby.

What does Atwater's exit mean for Chicago P.D.?

While fans are naturally upset about Hawkins' abrupt departure from Chicago P.D. Season 14, Sigan has assured them that the upcoming episodes will feature some heartwarming scenes with Atwater, Tasha and the newborn.

Speaking with TV Insider, Sigan teased:

"You get to meet the baby, you get to go home with them, you get to see that little family unit starting...then we see what it feels like to go back to the job knowing, I have this wonderful family and this thing at home that now I have to also think about and that transition for him."

In addition to a major transition for Atwater, the upcoming episodes will feature wholesome moments between Atwater, Burgess, and Ruzek, the 'Three Musketeers', before Hawkins exits the show for good.

Since Atwater's departure will leave a major hole in the team, Sigan also teased the arrival of new members in Chicago P.D. Season 14, who will certainly shake up the dynamics in the upcoming episodes:

"Yeah, you’re definitely going to see some new faces...This is the smallest the unit has been in a minute, so we will have some new faces coming in and new ways that we’re working, and how they come into the unit’s really interesting."

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In addition to Flueger and Squerciati, Chicago P.D. Season 14 marks the return of Jason Beghe as Sergeant Henry "Hank" Voight, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Officer Dante Torres, Amy Morton as Sergeant Gertrude "Trudy" Platt, and Arienne Mandi as Officer Eva Imani.

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