Why did Nick Wechsler leave Chicago PD (and when)?

Nick Wechsler was a memorable presence on Chicago PD. The actor brought a tense presence to the IU when his character was tasked with replacing Ruzek (Patrick Flueger) during an undercover stint.

That being said, the actor came and went over the course of a single season: season 4. Those who are watching reruns or binging the back catalogue of Chicago PD might be thrown by how quickly he exits, so we’re here to shed some light on the actor and his exit.

Here’s what you need to know.

Did Rixton die on Chicago PD?

Wechsler played Kenny Rixton, a Chicago policeman who has a strong penchant for justice. His worldview became evident in the season 4 episode “Sanctuary”, when two boys are accused of assault and Rixton asks the boys’ father not to defend them. He eventually backs down at the behest of Voight (Jason Beghe).

Rixton was someone who was dedicated to his job, and as such, we got very little about his personal life during season 4. He got along decently with Voight and the rest of the IU, but there didn’t seen to be a close bond the way that other newcomers eventually developed. This may have been due to Rixton’s belief that he was “filling in” for Ruzek and was not going to be staying with the team long term.

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In the end, Rixton’s gut proved to be right. In the episode “Favor, Affection, Malice or Ill-Will”, he tells Ruzek that he accepted a job to be second in-command for a narcotics team, and that Ruzek should resume his position with the IU. Rixton also reveals that he was friends with Ruzek’s old man during his time on the force.

Rixton has not appeared since his season 4 departure, and there hasn’t been any mention of him in subsequent years. It makes sense, given that he didn’t ruffle many feathers during his time with the unit, nor did he die in the line of duty. He simply did his job and moved on to another field. We are glad Ruzek came back but  Rixton remains an interesting footnote in the show’s history.

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