Chicago PD season 6 character preview: Hailey Upton

Where we left off

Chicago PD season 5 was Hailey Upton’s first season as a main character, so most of her screen time was about establishing her as a series regular—getting the audience to know her better and embrace her as a character they wanted to follow on a weekly basis.

Two of the season’s episodes focused on Upton’s backstory. The first was “Fallen” which involved the apparent murder of Sgt. Sean McGrady (guest star Wil Traval), who had previously worked with Hailey. When McGrady’s death was later revealed to be a suicide, Upton learned a few more hard truths about her former colleague, while also having to decide if she would reveal them to others or leave McGrady’s reputation intact.

Then in “Ghosts” audiences finally received the answer to a question posed during season 4, when it was explained what undercover operation Hailey had been on before she crossed paths with the Intelligence Unit. Upton went back undercover to capture Ronald Booth (guest star Titus Welliver), the criminal who had not only killed her partner but also tried to assault her. She ended up getting her revenge, though Halstead stopped her before she killed Booth.

Upton was also a supporting character to Halstead, including giving him an ultimatum to get help or she’d get a new partner. Luckily he listened, and they’re still partners in Chicago PD season 6.