Kevin Atwater has spent years facing danger as part of Chicago’s Intelligence Unit, but Chicago P.D. Season 14 is putting him in a situation no police investigation could prepare him for. As his personal life approaches a major turning point, one phone call threatens to change everything he thought he knew about his future.
The October 7, 2026, premiere, “Demolition,” puts LaRoyce Hawkins’ longtime character at the centre of an emotional storyline involving Tasha Fox, a baby on the way and a career decision that could bring his time with the Intelligence Unit to an end. But before Atwater can figure out what comes next, he has one urgent priority: getting to Fox.
‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 14 Premiere: Kevin Atwater Gets an Urgent Baby Call
The Season 14 premiere opens a new chapter for Kevin Atwater, played by LaRoyce Hawkins, as he waits for news about Officer Tasha Fox, portrayed by Karen Obilom. Fox is in Florida, and with her due date approaching, Atwater is struggling to keep his excitement and nerves under control.
Even while working with Chicago’s Intelligence Unit, he cannot stop thinking about the baby. His repeated calls to Fox make it clear that waiting for updates is proving harder than he expected.
Atwater’s personal concerns soon have to take a back seat when the Intelligence Unit receives information about a homicide. The investigation brings him back into familiar territory, requiring him to work alongside his colleagues to uncover what happened.
Yet the timing of the case makes the situation especially significant. Atwater is trying to fulfil his responsibilities as a police officer while preparing for one of the biggest changes of his life. By the time the investigation reaches its conclusion, the news he has been waiting for finally arrives.
Another Major Change for the Intelligence Unit
Kevin Atwater’s expected departure marks a significant change for the team he has worked with since the early seasons of Chicago P.D. Explore our Kevin Atwater exit and LaRoyce Hawkins departure explainer for more on why the character is leaving.
How Kevin Atwater and Tasha Fox’s Romance Led to Their Baby
Atwater’s journey towards fatherhood began when he rekindled his connection with Tasha Fox, an officer he knew from their time at the police academy.
After reconnecting, the pair developed a romantic relationship shortly before Fox planned to move to Miami. They slept together, but Fox subsequently returned to Chicago with unexpected news: she was pregnant.
Atwater was delighted by the announcement. The two began discussing their future as parents while exploring the possibility of building a more lasting relationship.
By the start of Season 14, however, Fox is in Florida, leaving Atwater waiting anxiously as her due date approaches. The distance adds another layer to an already emotional situation. He wants to be there for Fox and their child, but until he receives confirmation that labour has begun, he can do little more than wait for the phone to ring.
For a character whose professional life has been shaped by high-pressure investigations and difficult decisions, the prospect of becoming a father introduces a different kind of responsibility. His future is no longer just about the job he has known for years.
Atwater Keeps Calling Tasha Fox for Baby Updates
The premiere gives viewers a lighter look at Atwater’s growing anticipation before the episode’s more urgent developments take over.
After grabbing coffee, Atwater calls Fox again. He tries to reassure her that he will not keep checking in constantly, although his behaviour suggests that waiting patiently is easier said than done.
Atwater tells Fox:
“I’m not going to call you every 20 minutes,” Atwater told Fox, though he’d been frequently dialing her for baby updates. “I just felt like the baby was on the way.”
His colleague Kim Burgess, played by Marina Squerciati, quickly notices how distracted he has become. Having worked alongside Atwater for years, she is not about to let him pretend that he is completely relaxed.
Burgess jokes:
“Oh my god, you’re going to drive her insane, Kev,” Atwater’s buddy Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) quipped while rolling her eyes.
Fox then asks who is with Atwater. He identifies Burgess before making it clear that his colleague is not being particularly supportive.
Atwater responds:
“Yes, that’s Burgess,” Atwater told an inquisitive Fox before adding, “No, she’s not being nice.”
The exchange brings some humour to an episode otherwise filled with tension. Burgess recognises that Atwater’s repeated calls are a reflection of his excitement and nervous anticipation.
But the conversation cannot last. The Intelligence Unit soon receives information about a homicide, forcing Atwater to return his attention to the investigation.
‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 14: Atwater Arrests a Corrupt Parole Officer
Atwater works alongside Officer Eva Imani, played by Arienne Mandi, and the rest of the Intelligence Unit as they investigate a homicide involving a corrupt parole officer.
As the investigation progresses, the team uncovers the officer’s wrongdoing. Despite the suspect’s attempts to evade justice, Atwater manages to disarm and apprehend them before they can escape.
The arrest brings the immediate case to a conclusion, giving the team an opportunity to leave the crime scene.
For Atwater, the timing could hardly be more important. He has spent much of the episode waiting for news from Fox, and with the suspect in handcuffs, he can finally turn his attention back to his family.
Less than five minutes after placing the suspect under arrest, his phone rings again.
This time, it is the call that changes the entire mood of the episode.
Tasha Fox Goes Into Labor: ‘Chicago P.D.’ Shows Atwater’s Emotional Reaction
Atwater answers the phone, immediately sensing that something important has happened.
His first reaction is one of disbelief:
“Hey — what?” Atwater said after picking up the phone.
Fox is on the other end of the call, confirming that she is in labor.
Even though Atwater has been checking on her repeatedly, the news still catches him off guard. He needs to make sure he has heard her correctly, asking a series of questions as the reality of the moment begins to sink in.
Atwater asks:
“Are you serious, or are you playing? Is the baby coming? You sure? You are? OK,” Atwater said.
There is no more time to wait for another update. Fox is in labor, and Atwater needs to get to her as quickly as possible.
His colleagues immediately understand what the news means. Imani waves him away from the crime scene, urging him to leave rather than waste another moment.
Imani tells him:
“Kev, go!” Imani told him, waving him away from the crime scene. “Go!”
Adam Ruzek, played by Patrick John Flueger, offers Atwater a ride. As they hurry towards Ruzek’s car, Imani calls after him with one final message.
“Good luck!”
The moment highlights the support Atwater receives from the Intelligence Unit. His colleagues have just completed a serious investigation, but they recognise that the arrival of his child matters far more than staying at the scene any longer.
The premiere ends this part of the story with Atwater rushing to reach Fox. The birth itself is not shown in “Demolition,” but the preview for the next episode provides an important glimpse of what happens afterwards.
‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 14 Episode 2 Preview Reveals Atwater’s Baby Boy
NBC’s preview for “Don’t Blink,” the next episode, shows Atwater and Fox at home with their newborn son. Their story moves beyond the anticipation surrounding the birth and into the realities of becoming a family.
The preview also introduces the question that will shape Atwater’s next chapter: what does he want from his future after spending so many years in the Intelligence Unit?
Atwater reflects on the district that has been his professional home.
He says:
“For the past 14 years, the 21st district has been my home,” Atwater says in the preview.
But the next line suggests that he is ready to consider a different direction.
“I want something new.”
Sergeant Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe, responds with support for Atwater’s decision.
“You deserve that. So does your son.”
The exchange connects Atwater’s changing priorities directly to his new role as a father. After years of dedicating himself to police work, he now has to consider how his career fits into the life he wants to build with Fox and their son.
The preview does not disclose every detail of his decision or establish precisely where he will go after leaving the unit. It does, however, make clear that his departure is closely connected to the new family he is beginning.
Gwen Sigan Explains Why Atwater’s Exit Had to Feel Natural
LaRoyce Hawkins has played Kevin Atwater since Chicago P.D. premiered in 2014. With the character’s departure approaching in Season 14, showrunner Gwen Sigan has explained why the creative team wanted his farewell to feel authentic rather than abrupt.
Speaking to TV Insider before the premiere, Sigan said the writers wanted to build on elements already present in Atwater’s character and give his storyline a natural progression.
Sigan explained:
“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,” showrunner Gwen Sigan tells TV Insider.
She also said the team wanted the ending to be positive and to give Atwater a decision he could make for himself.
“And we knew we wanted to make it positive, make it optimistic for him, make it something that for his character could be a choice and that he could almost author it and we could bake it into the episode in a way that felt like, OK, we’re giving this character something that maybe he’s been longing for or wanting for a long time and hasn’t admitted to,” she continues. “And so it felt like we got there.”
Sigan praised Hawkins’ performance and the care that went into preparing the farewell.
“I’m very proud of the episode. I’m very proud of LaRoyce. I thought he did a fantastic job in it. His performance is wonderful,” says Sigan. “It felt really nice to have it be Jesse who directed it. So somebody from the family from the other side of it who still is able to be a part of the show in a different capacity. And so I think hopefully you can feel all of that on screen and the care and the attention that we put into it.”
The episode was directed by Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Detective Jay Halstead before leaving the series and later returning to direct episodes. His involvement gives Atwater’s farewell a connection to another former member of the show’s original cast.
What Will ‘Chicago P.D.’ Show About Atwater’s New Life as a Father?
Sigan has offered further details about “Don’t Blink,” explaining that the episode will explore the early days of Atwater and Fox’s life with their baby.
Rather than focusing only on the birth, the story will show the family at home, including the stress and happiness that come with adjusting to a newborn.
Sigan described the episode this way:
“a little bit of everything. Yeah, you get to meet the baby, you get to go home with them, you get to see that little family unit starting and what it looks like and the stress of it, but also the fun of it and the joy of it and how Atwater’s feeling.”
The episode will also move forward to Atwater’s return to work after spending time at home.
“And then we do jump to him going back to work for the first time. So he’s taken a few weeks at home with the baby, at home with Tasha, and 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.”
That transition is central to the character’s story. Atwater is not simply welcoming a child; he is reassessing the place his career occupies in his life. The experience of returning to work after spending a few weeks with Fox and their son will help bring his priorities into focus.
Sigan’s comments suggest that viewers will see both the rewards and pressures of Atwater’s new family life before the story reaches his professional decision.
Why Is LaRoyce Hawkins Leaving ‘Chicago P.D.’?
News of Hawkins’ departure emerged in July 2026, ahead of the Season 14 premiere. Rather than saving the storyline for the season’s conclusion, the show begins introducing the circumstances around Atwater’s exit early in the new run.
The narrative ties the change to his personal life. Becoming a father gives Atwater a new set of responsibilities and a reason to consider what he wants from the years ahead.
Sigan’s comments indicate that the writers wanted his departure to feel like a choice that grows out of his development, rather than an event imposed on him without warning.
The premiere does not establish exactly where Atwater will go or fully explain every circumstance surrounding his exit. “Don’t Blink” is expected to provide the decisive developments.
His departure will also change the dynamic among the officers who have worked alongside him for years, including Burgess and Ruzek. Atwater has been part of Chicago P.D. since its early seasons, making his exit a significant change for the Intelligence Unit.
Marina Squerciati Reacts to LaRoyce Hawkins’ Departure
Atwater’s departure also carries an emotional impact for the actors who have spent more than a decade working with Hawkins.
Marina Squerciati, who plays Kim Burgess, spoke about the news before the Season 14 premiere. Her comments reflect the close relationships that have developed among the show’s longtime cast members.
Squerciati told Us Weekly:
“I can never prepare for LaRoyce’s exit because LaRoyce is my ride or die buddy,” Squerciati told Us Weekly. “But we’re still in touch, and he will be forever in my life.”
She also described the significance of losing a member of the show’s core group.
“We’re … losing the Three Musketeers, and it’s really hard,” she told the publication, referring to herself, Hawkins and Patrick John Flueger, who plays Adam Ruzek.
Squerciati said the three actors had been a close-knit group throughout their time on the series.
Her remarks underline the difference between a character leaving a television drama and the relationships that continue beyond the screen. For viewers, Atwater’s departure marks the end of a longstanding chapter in the Intelligence Unit’s history. For his castmates, it also means saying goodbye to a colleague who has been part of their working lives for years.
‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 14 Episode 2 Release Date and Time
The next episode, “Don’t Blink,” is scheduled to air on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. It will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock.
| Official detail | Information |
| Series | Chicago P.D. |
| Season | 14 |
| Premiere episode | “Demolition” |
| Premiere date | Wednesday, October 7, 2026 |
| Next episode | “Don’t Blink” |
| Next episode release date | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |
| NBC broadcast time | 10 p.m. ET |
| Streaming platform | Peacock |
| Streaming availability | The day after the NBC broadcast |
| Kevin Atwater | LaRoyce Hawkins |
| Tasha Fox | Karen Obilom |
| Kim Burgess | Marina Squerciati |
| Adam Ruzek | Patrick John Flueger |
| Eva Imani | Arienne Mandi |
| Hank Voight | Jason Beghe |
| Showrunner | Gwen Sigan |
| Director of the farewell episode | Jesse Lee Soffer |
The episode is expected to show Atwater and Fox settling into life with their son before exploring the decision that will change his professional future. Sigan has described the farewell as optimistic and rooted in Atwater’s character development.
Another TV Comeback to Watch
While Chicago P.D. is preparing to say goodbye to a longtime character, another television project is building anticipation around a familiar star’s return. Find out more in our Roseanne Barr’s Meemaw cast and plot update.
Conclusion: Atwater’s ‘Chicago P.D.’ Story Enters a New Chapter
The Season 14 premiere gives Kevin Atwater a moment that could reshape his entire future. After balancing a homicide investigation with his anxiety about Fox’s approaching due date, he finally learns that she is in labor and rushes to reach her.
NBC’s preview for “Don’t Blink” confirms that Atwater and Fox have welcomed a baby boy, while the show’s creative team has connected his impending departure to the responsibilities and possibilities of becoming a father. With Hawkins’ exit approaching, Atwater’s story is moving towards a farewell built around family, personal choice and the prospect of a new beginning.
The next episode will explore how he adjusts to fatherhood and what happens when he returns to work with a different perspective on his future.
Source and research disclaimer: This article has been prepared using the source material and published reporting provided below, including NBC’s episode recap and preview, interviews with Chicago P.D. showrunner Gwen Sigan and cast member Marina Squerciati, and information about the series’ upcoming episode. It reflects the information available in those sources. Details not established in the released episode or preview remain subject to confirmation when the relevant episodes air.
Sources
- NBC Insider: Atwater Gets Huge Personal News
- TV Insider: Did ‘Chicago P.D.’ Promo Reveal How Atwater Will Be Written Out?
- TV Insider: ‘Chicago P.D.’ Boss on Atwater’s Exit
- Us Weekly: ‘Chicago P.D.’ Boss Teases Atwater’s Exit
- Peacock: Chicago P.D. on Peacock
Featured Image Credit: Lori Allen / NBC
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