Chicago PD season 7 character preview: Adam Ruzek
By Kari Highman
Where we left off
Adam hasn’t always had the easiest time with things, both on and off the job—and Chicago PD season 6 was no exception. Ruzek began the season at odds with Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda) over Alvin’s death; and prior to his hookup with Hailey Upton, he was butting heads with her over case ethics.
The latter conflict didn’t stop when he did get together with Upton, as seen in “Descent” when the two were arguing in a stairwell over his allegiance to the team versus what was best for himself. He made the point to Hailey that he would choose to protect the Intelligence Unit every time if given the chance, while she was worried that this extreme loyalty would cost him his career.
Ruzek got caught up in another ethically dubious situation during “Fathers and Sons” when he recognized his dad, “Disco” Bob Ruzek (Jack Coleman) while undercover. Bob was working as an informant on a drug distributor that Intelligence was investigating, and ended up getting shot at the end of the episode.
This unfortunate incident actually brought Adam and his father closer together, as they finally seemed to reach a mutual understanding on what they’ll do for the sake of the job.
Ruzek’s clashing opinions with Upton over professional decisions came back to bite the couple in “Sacrifice” over a theft case involving prescription drugs. He got frustrated with her when she pulled him out of a bust prematurely, and accused her of doing so because of their relationship. While Upton assured him that wasn’t the reason behind it, Ruzek didn’t buy it.
The two tried to patch things up, but after a talk with Trudy Platt (Amy Morton), Upton realized that her and Ruzek’s loyalties lay in different places. The duo soon amicably ended their relationship.
The curveballs in Adam’s life didn’t stop there: that IAD investigation from “Descent” came back to haunt Adam in “Reckoning” when mayoral candidate Brian Kelton (John McGinley) reopened the case.
Ruzek was back in hot water over his fake version of events that led to a suspect’s accidental death, and since he always protects the unit, he wasn’t about to give up Antonio as the perpetrator. That meant Ruzek himself was soon arrested, and Chicago PD last showed him in jail, his fate seemingly bleak.