Chicago P.D. is an American police procedural drama television series created by Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead as the first spin-off from Chicago Fire. The series originally premiered on NBC as a mid-season replacement on January 8, 2014. The show focuses on a uniformed police patrol and the Intelligence Unit of the Chicago Police Department that pursues the perpetrators of the city's major street offenses.
On November 9, 2015, NBC renewed the series for a fourth season. The season premiered on September 21, 2016.
Chicago P.D. follows the Chicago Police Department uniformed cops who patrol the beat and go head-to-head with the city’s street crimes and the detectives of the Intelligence Unit that combats the city’s major offenses, including organized crime, drug trafficking, and high-profile murders.
Main cast
Jason Beghe as Sergeant Henry "Hank" Voight, the enigmatic head of the Chicago P.D.'s Intelligence Unit. Despite his brusque, tough exterior and take-no-prisoners approach to police work, he is loyal to the cops and detectives serving under him and highly dedicated to the victims of the crimes his unit investigates. He is first introduced in Chicago Fire as a dirty cop who clashes with CFD Lt. Matthew Casey after Voight's son Justin causes an accident in which a teenager is paralyzed, and Casey, who was first on scene, had intended to testify that Justin was DUI. He was arrested by Det. Antonio Dawson for trying to have Casey silenced by force, but was later released from prison and reinstated to the police force by Internal Affairs. As a result, many of Casey's colleagues disliked him and Casey's superior Chief Boden has a love-hate working relationship with him. It is eventually revealed in the Chicago Fire episode "Let Her Go" that his dirty cop alter ego was part of an undercover operation to catch criminals and other dirty cops. Prior to taking command of Intelligence, Voight worked in the Gang Unit. His father Richard was a former CPD who was killed in the line of duty. Voight is a widower; his wife, Camille, died. His son, Justin, served in the Army and was killed in the last episode of Season 3 while trying to help a friend. He took on Erin Lindsay when she was 15 and now sees her as his daughter.Jon Seda as Detective Antonio Dawson (Seasons 1–4), an Intelligence Unit detective who previously arrested Voight for harassment and now works alongside him. Unlike Voight, he has limits on how far he will go to get criminals off the streets, as shown by the fact that he asked Halstead to stop Voight from killing anyone while on the hunt for Pulpo, as he did not want it on his conscience. He and his ex-wife Laura have two children: Diego and Eva. His younger sister is paramedic-turned-firefighter Gabriela Dawson. In Season 4 he is offered a job at the State's Attorney's Office as Lead Investigator, which he accepts.Sophia Bush as Detective Erin Lindsay, a tough Intelligence Unit detective and former CI whom Voight took under his wing when she was a drug-addicted teenager. Because of this, she is closer with Voight than the other members of the unit. She has a half-brother, Teddy Courtney, who was taken by a pedophilia ring at age thirteen and was found turning tricks in New York City 10 years later. She is in a relationship with her partner Jay Halstead.Jesse Lee Soffer as Detective Jay Halstead, a brash Intelligence Unit detective who is Detective Lindsay's partner. A former Army Ranger, he is confident in his abilities and sometimes comes across as cocky. His younger brother is Dr. Will Halstead, who is a main character in Chicago Med. He is in a relationship with his partner Erin Lindsay.Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek, a younger police officer recruited straight out of the academy by Olinsky to do undercover work. He is often portrayed as an overeager amateur who dives head-first into a situation without thinking. His parents are separated and he split time between his father "Disco Bob" Ruzek (Jack Coleman), a longtime patrol officer with the 26th District, who lives in Beverly, and his mom in Canaryville. He was engaged to fellow police officer Kim Burgess.Marina Squerciati as Officer Kim Burgess, a former flight attendant-turned-uniformed patrol officer who was Atwater's partner. Now she is partnered with Sean Roman. Burgess is shot in "Called in Dead" and spends the next episode recovering. She was engaged to Adam Ruzek, which was later broken off due to commitment issues. She later developed feelings for Roman before he moved to San Diego. In Season 4 she is offered a job in Intelligience, which she accepts.LaRoyce Hawkins as Detective Kevin Atwater, a uniformed patrol officer who was Burgess' old partner until he was promoted to join the Intelligence Unit.Archie Kao as Detective Sheldon Jin (Season 1), a tech and surveillance expert. He was discovered to be a reluctant mole working for Internal Affairs sergeant Edwin Stillwell, who has leverage to make him cooperate. He was found murdered in the first season finale episode "A Beautiful Friendship."Amy Morton as Desk Sergeant Trudy Platt (Season 2–present; recurring Season 1), a sarcastic desk sergeant of District 21, and the immediate superior of the district's patrol officers. Before taking a desk job she was a uniformed patrol officer, and worked with Det. Dawson. She twice passed the detective's exam. Sergeant Platt is also a recurring character on Chicago Fire as she is the wife of CFD firefighter Randy "Mouch" McHolland.Brian Geraghty as Officer Sean Roman (Seasons 2–3), a brash patrol officer who partners with Burgess after transferring to the 2-1 from District 31. He transferred out because of his relationship with, Jenn Cassidy (Spencer Grammer), who is now a K-9 officer, to avoid breaking fraternization rules. He has his own private security company on the side. After being wounded and the department feil he would unable to return to patrol, he resigns and decides to join San Diego police department.Elias Koteas as Detective Alvin Olinsky, a veteran undercover officer and a friend of Voight's who previously worked alongside Voight in the Gang Unit. Before joining the force, Olinsky served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team stationed in Vicenza, Italy. Olinsky mentions in "Called in Dead" that he has 8 confirmed kills in the line of duty.Samuel Caleb Hunt as Craig "Mouse" Gerwitz, the new tech and surveillance expert for the Intelligence Unit. He was in the same Army unit as Jay.Stella Maeve as Nadia Decotis, an 18-year-old former escort and addict whom Lindsay tries and succeeds in helping. She later becomes the Intelligence Unit's civilian administrative aide and was studying to be a police officer. She was murdered by Dr. Gregory Yates in Law & Order: SVU's 16th season, episode "Daydream Believer," the conclusion of the season's second SVU Chicago Crossover Event.Barbara Eve Harris as Commander Emma Crowley, the current commander of the 21st District, who shares a rocky past with Sgt. Platt.Kevin J. O'Connor as Commander Fischer, the commander of the 21st District who succeed Ron Perry after his retirement. He was replaced by Commander Crowley because of the district's bad public image.Robert Wisdom as Commander Ron Perry, former commander of the 21st District. He was killed in the second season finale episode "Born Into Bad News."Josh Segarra as Justin Voight, Voight's son. He was killed in the third season finale "Start Digging".Markie Post as Barbara "Bunny" Fletcher, Lindsay's motherChris Agos as ASA (Assistant State's Attorney) Steve KotIan Bohen as Sergeant Edwin Stillwell, Voight's new Internal Affairs handler. He was arrested after it was found out that he was involved in Jin's murder.Alina Taber as Lexi Olinsky, Alvin Olinsky's daughter. She died from injuries in "Emotional Proximity"Madison McLaughlin as Michelle Sovana, Alvin Olinsky's daughter who shows up at the end of season two. She is the daughter of a woman Olinsky was involved with when he was undercover.Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Detective Mia Sumner, a new member on the Intelligence team, removed on "The Docks" and replaced by Atwater.Melissa Carlson as Meredith Olinsky, Alvin Olinsky's estranged wifeErik Hellman as Dr. Alec Willhite, a doctor at Chicago Med and Detective Julia Willhite's widower, after she was killed off in the first episode.America Olivo as Laura Dawson, Antonio's ex-wifeZach Garcia as Diego Dawson, Antonio's sonMaya Moravec as Eva Dawson, Antonio's daughterNick Wechsler as Detective Kenny RixtonTaylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, crossover character from Chicago Fire, Rescue Squad 3 at Firehouse 51. He had a fling with Erin Lindsay.Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, crossover character from Chicago Fire, Lieutenant of Truck Company 81 at Firehouse 51.Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter and former paramedic with Firehouse 51; also Antonio's younger sister and one of the co-owners of Molly's, a bar frequented by characters from Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.Lauren German as Leslie Shay, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a paramedic with Firehouse 51. She is killed in the Chicago Fire Season 3 premiere "Always." Her murder is investigated by the Intelligence Unit.Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a paramedic with Firehouse 51. She is Leslie Shay's replacement.David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter with Firehouse 51 and one of the co-owners of Molly's.Charlie Barnett as Peter Mills, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter and temporary paramedic with Firehouse 51.Yuri Sardarov as Brian "Otis" Zvonecek, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter with Firehouse 51 and one of the co-owners of Molly's.Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter with Firehouse 51.Eamonn Walker as Wallace Boden, crossover character from Chicago Fire, the Battalion Chief at Firehouse 51.Christian Stolte as Randy "Mouch" McHolland, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter with Firehouse 51. He is recently married to Trudy Platt.Steven R. McQueen as Jimmy Borelli, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a probationary firefighter and paramedic with Firehouse 51.Brian J. White as Dallas Patterson, crossover character from Chicago Fire.Randy Flagler as Capp, crossover character from Chicago Fire, a firefighter with Rescue Squad 3 at Firehouse 51.Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a doctor at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. He is also the brother of Jay Halstead.Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Natalie Manning, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a doctor and pediatrician at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.Rachel DiPillo as Sarah Reese, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a fourth-year medical student at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.Colin Donnell as Dr. Connor Rhodes, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a doctor at Gaffney Chicago Medical CenterBrian Tee as Dr. Ethan Choi, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a doctor at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a charge nurse at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin, a crossover character from Chicago Med, the Chief of Services (chief administrator) of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles, a crossover character from Chicago Med, a psychologist at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. He helped in Erin Lindsay's return to Intelligence.Kelli Giddish as Det. Amanda Rollins, crossover character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a Special Victims Unit detective from New York City.Ice-T as Det. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, crossover character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a senior Special Victims Unit detective from New York City.Danny Pino as Det. Nick Amaro, crossover character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a Special Victims Unit detective from New York City.Mariska Hargitay as Lieutenant Olivia Benson, crossover character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the commanding officer of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit from New York City. Despite their differing methods, she and Voight establish a bond of trust and friendship while working a joint case.Peter Scanavino as Det. Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, Jr., crossover character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a junior Special Victims Unit detective from New York City.Philip Winchester as Assistant State's Attorney Peter Stone, crossover character from upcoming Chicago Justice, an ASA.On March 27, 2013, it was reported that NBC was considering plans for a spin-off of Chicago Fire. Deadline.com revealed that the proposed spin-off would involve the Chicago Police Department, and would be created and executive produced by Dick Wolf, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, and Matt Olmstead.
On May 10, 2013, NBC picked up the show for the 2013–14 United States network television schedule. On May 12, 2013, the show was announced as an unscheduled midseason replacement.
On October 18, 2013, NBC announced that it would premiere on January 8, 2014, at 10:00 p.m. EST, after Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The series is filmed entirely in Chicago. The exterior of the station house is the Old Maxwell Street Police Station (943 West Maxwell Street) and is the same location that was used on the series Hill Street Blues. It is located about half a mile from the firehouse location of Chicago Fire at 1360 S. Blue Island Ave.
Tania Raymonde was cast in the planned series as a police officer named Nicole. Kelly Blatz was also cast as a young but seasoned Officer Elam. The new characters were introduced in the penultimate episode of Chicago Fire's first season, which aired on May 15, 2013. Scott Eastwood was set to portray Officer Jim Barnes in the Chicago Fire season finale and the proposed spin-off. Eastwood also co-starred with Tania Raymonde in Texas Chainsaw 3D. Law & Order: SVU's Melissa Sagemiller would portray Detective Willhite, a member of the Chicago P.D. Intelligence Unit. Other cast members include Jason Beghe as the Intelligence team Sergeant Hank Voight and Jon Seda as Detective Antonio Dawson. LaRoyce Hawkins was the only Chicago area actor originally cast in May.
As the show went into pre-production, the cast began to change. On June 13, 2013, it was announced that Melissa Sagemiller would no longer be a part of the show and Jesse Lee Soffer officially joined the cast as a series regular. His character was introduced in the second season of Chicago Fire. On August 23, 2013, Patrick Flueger and One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush joined the cast as Officer Adam Ruzek and Detective Erin Lindsay respectively. Marina Squerciati joined the cast on August 28, 2013. On August 30, Elias Koteas became a regular. Archie Kao was announced as a regular on September 27, 2013.
On October 21, 2013, Stella Maeve was cast in a recurring role as Nadia, a pretty 18-year-old escort who is addicted to heroin and goes through a very difficult withdrawal. Sydney Tamiia Poitier will guest star in five episodes as a detective, who will eventually crossover on to Chicago Fire. On December 20, 2013, it was announced that both Eastwood and Raymonde had departed the series over creative differences.
"Conventions" is the conclusion of a crossover with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit about the pursuit of a serial rapist. It features Amanda Rollins and Odafin Tutola, while "Comic Perversion" features Erin Lindsay."8:30 PM" is the conclusion of a crossover with Chicago Fire about an explosion that occurs at Chicago Med, leading the fire and police departments to track down the culprits. It features Matthew Casey, Kelly Severide, Wallace Boden, Leslie Shay, Peter Mills and Joe Cruz, while "A Dark Day" features Hank Voight, Antonio Dawson, Erin Lindsay, Jay Halstead, Kim Burgess and Kevin Atwater."They'll Have to Go Through Me" is the conclusion of a crossover with Chicago Fire and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit centered on a pedophile ring. It features Nick Amaro, Amanda Rollins and Olivia Benson, while "Nobody Touches Anything" features Hank Voight and Erin Lindsay, and "Chicago Crossover" features Erin Lindsay, Jay Halstead and Hank Voight."A Little Devil Complex" is the conclusion of a crossover with Chicago Fire about the pursuit of the arsonist who killed Leslie Shay. It features Gabriela Dawson, Peter Mills and Wallace Boden, while "Three Bells" features Kim Burgess, Sean Roman and Antonio Dawson."The Number of Rats" is part two of a crossover with Chicago Fire and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit about a case of rape and murder in Chicago that resembles an unsolved case in New York. It features Olivia Benson, Nick Amaro, Odafin Tutuola and Dominick Carisi, Jr. from SVU, as well as Matthew Casey and Wallace Boden from Fire, while "We Called Her Jellybean" features Hank Voight and Antonio Dawson, and "Daydream Believer" features Hank Voight, Erin Lindsay, Jay Halstead, Kim Burgess and Sean Roman."Now I'm God" is the conclusion of a crossover with Chicago Fire and Chicago Med where Christopher Herrmann is treated for a stab wound while a woman pulled from a fire is discovered to have been overdosed with chemotherapy. It features Natalie Manning and Daniel Charles from Med, while "The Beating Heart" features Adam Ruzek, Kim Burgess and Trudy Platt, and "Malignant" features Jay Halstead and Erin Lindsay."The Song of Gregory Williams Yates" is the conclusion of a crossover with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit where SVU helps Intelligence find escaped serial killer Greg Yates. It features Olivia Benson and Fin Tutuola, while "Nationwide Manhunt" features Antonio Dawson, Erin Lindsay and Hank Voight."Don't Bury This Case" is the conclusion of a crossover with Chicago Fire where Kelly Severide is brought into the 21st after his car caused a deadly crash and the team finds a group of carjackers who may be the key to Severide's innocence. It features Matthew Casey, Kelly Severide, and Mouch from Fire, while "Some Make It, Some Don't" features Erin Lindsay, Hank Voight, and Trudy Platt."Emotional Proximity" is part two of a crossover with Chicago Fire and Chicago Justice where Firehouse 51 responds to the scene of a warehouse fire that puts the lives of many in danger, including a relative of a Chicago police officer. It features Will Halstead, Natalie Manning, and Ethan Choi from Med, Kelly Severide, Wallace Boden, and Sylvie Brett from Fire, and Antonio Dawson and Peter Stone from Justice, while "Deathtrap" features Hank Voight, Alvin Olinsky, Erin Lindsay, and Kim Burgess, and "Fake" features Hank Voight and Alvin Olinsky.At the 2016 Television Critics Association winter press tour, NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke revealed that the network had discussions with Dick Wolf about a fourth series in the Chicago franchise centered on the legal system. The working title was Chicago Law. Salke has since confirmed that the series was officially in development. The series will be a spin-off of Chicago P.D. by introducing Assistant State's Attorney (ASA) characters in the 21st episode of P.D.'s third season. Philip Winchester was the first to be cast. Nazneen Contractor joined the series in March 2016 and the title was changed to Chicago Justice. Rocky alum Carl Weathers will play Cook County State's Attorney Mark Jefferies, while Joelle Carter will also star. Lorraine Toussaint will reprise her role as defense attorney Shambala Green, who appeared in seven episodes of Law & Order. On May 12, 2016, NBC gave Chicago Justice a series order. On September 28, it was reported that Jon Seda would join the cast and that his character Antonio would become an investigator for the DA's office.
Airing at 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Chicago P.D. is earning a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18–49 and 9.4 million viewers overall this season, for gains versus last season of +10% in 18–49 and +14% in total viewers. Chicago P.D. has finished No. 1 or tied for No. 1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the time period with five of its last six original broadcasts through Feb. 2.
Since its premiere, Chicago P.D. has received mixed reviews from critics. Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the drama a 50% rating based on 21 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Rotten Tomatoes gives season 1 a rating of 57% based on reviews from 28 critics.
Ray Rahman of Entertainment Weekly gave the drama a favorable review: "It's hard to imagine the series capturing the compelling, can't-watch-just-one magic that makes the Law & Order franchise so marathonable, but it moves just fast enough to keep you from changing the channel in search of an SVU re-run." Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times also gave the series a positive review when it premiered on January 8: "Chicago P.D. is, in many ways, a throwback to an earlier, male-dominated era of crime shows, yet it carves out room for strong female characters who are good at their jobs and taken seriously by their colleagues." Other critics, expressed their disappointment in the police drama, such as Robert Bianco of USA Today: "When did Wolf's work, which used to show some grace and wit, become this ugly, plodding and crass?"
Broadcast and streaming
Chicago PD airs on NBC in the United States. Season 3 of Chicago PD is available to stream on Hulu (with a subscription) and NBC.com (latest 5 episodes are free, older episodes require a cable provider log-in), and the NBC app. The show is also available through electronic sell-through platforms including, iTunes, Amazon Video, and Vudu.UK – Chicago P.D. is broadcast on 5USA in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The first season aired Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. between July 16 and October 22, 2014. Repeats were later broadcast on the channel's partner, Channel 5, prior to the broadcast of the second season beginning April 8, 2015.Australia – Chicago P.D. premiered on the Universal Channel on November 20, 2014.
