It seems Chicago Fire won’t be the only One Chicago show bidding farewell to members of its cast this fall. Chicago PD will also be seeing a series regular exiting the show.
Deadline has confirmed that actress Toya Turner will be exiting the show after one season as a series regular. Turner joined the cast in the season 12 premiere as Officer Kiana Cook, a former tactical officer who was demoted to patrol after she called out her supervisor for avoiding dangerous calls in order to protect his retirement and pension. She ended up landing a place on the Intelligence Unit after working with the team on a few cases and impressing Voight.
“My time on Chicago PD has come to a close. This show challenged me, sharpened me, and revealed what I’m made of. I’ve evolved through this experience, both as an artist and in my craft, and I’m walking away with depth, clarity, and momentum for whatever comes next,” Turner wrote in a statement on Instagram confirming her departure from the show ahead of its thirteenth season.
“To the cast and crew: thank you for the warmth, the laughter, and the generosity you brought every day. It was an honor to share the screen and the set with such talent. To the ChiHards: thank you for welcoming me, rooting for me, and showing Kiana love. And to everyone who believes in me: your support means the world. I’m excited for the opportunities ahead,” she concluded.
At this time, it’s unclear what led to Turner’s exit after just one season on the show; however, it seems likely it was a creative decision. Her exit mirrors that of Lisseth Chavez, who was also written out just one season after joining. Unfortunately, we expect the show will address Turner’s exit in a manner similar to how it addressed Chavez’s: An off-screen exit that will likely be addressed via a quick one-off line explaining her sudden absence from the team.
Interestingly, it seems the show is already working to cast Turner’s replacement. Deadline reports that the show is currently in the process of casting a new female series regular for season 13. This new character is described as being an ATF Task Force officer with a military background, known for being a loose cannon. Given that season 13 is expected to begin filming in July, we imagine a casting announcement will be coming in the weeks ahead.
It is not yet known whether any additional cast members will be exiting the series ahead of or in season 13, as the status of the cast’s contracts is unclear. The only actor who has been officially confirmed to return for season 13 is Jason Beghe, an announcement that came as no surprise given Voight has long been at the center of the show.
Chicago PD season 13 will premiere this fall on NBC.