Chicago PD exits in order: Every major cast exit from over the years

Chicago PD is the most dangerous of the three One Chicago titles. It makes sense. The characters who make up the IU are pursuing dangerous criminals on a weekly basis, and are frequently pulled into shootouts and life-threatening situations.

It also makes sense that this kind of high-stress job would wear people down. There have been lots of characters who have come and gone over the years, especially considering Chicago PD is gearing up for its 12th season.

As we get ready for the show's next chapter, we thought it would be a good time to recap every major cast exit that we've seen thus far. Yes, including the latest one.

Why did Sean Roman leave Chicago PD?

So, Sean Roman (Brian Geraghty) has a couple different exits. The character was a mainstay during seasons 2 and 3 of the show, when he worked alongside Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati). He was not a very good cop, though, and he decided to leave at the end of season 3 and move to San Diego.

Roman returned in the season 7 episode, "Burden of Truth." He learns that his sister was killed, and takes revenge on the drug dealer who did it by taking him out as well. Burgess and the rest of the IU confront Roman about his crime, but Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) decides to smooth things over and let the ex-officer go for old time's sake.

We probably won't be seeing Roman return to the Windy City anytime soon.

When did Erin Lindsay leave Chicago PD?

Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) was a crucial member of the IU early on. The character did whatever she felt was necessary to exact justice, and this included committing brutality on a suspect to get info on a child's whereabouts.

Unfortunately, Internal Affairs came down hard on Lindsay, and she responded by quitting and moving to New York to work with a narcotics unit (with some help from Voight).

Related: Sophia Bush reveals unsettling detail about Chicago PD premiere

Lindsay was last season in the season 5 episode "Fork In the Road," which is a fitting title given the conflicted point she was at in her life. Hopefully she figured things out in the Big Apple.

Why did Alvin Olinksy leave Chicago PD?

This one was recently complicated by a cameo. Alvin Olinksy (Elias Koteas) technically kicked the bucket in the season 5 episode "Homecoming." He was killed in prison, after taking the wrap on a crime that his buddy, Voight, actually committed. It was arguably the most tragic death of any PD character to date.

We did, however, get to see Olinksy return. He made an unexpected cameo in the season 11 finale, "More," in which he appeared to Voight as a vision. He had a brief exchange with Voight while the latter was kidnapped and exhausted. Morbid circumstances, but a welcome return nonetheless.

When did Antonio Dawson leave Chicago PD?

The middle seasons of Chicago PD were rough on the original cast. Sophia Bush and Elias Koteas left during the same season, and Jon Seda, the man who plays Antonio Dawson, left after the conclusion of season 6. His was a little different, in that he didn't get an official offscreen exit.

Read More: Chicago PD star addresses rumors that Jon Seda is returning

Instead, Dawson left between seasons, with the reason being that he continued to struggle with drug use and decided to move back to his native Puerto Rico to get his head straight. Seda has hinted at a desire to return to PD, though, so the Dawson story may not be over yet.

Why did Vanessa Rojas leave Chicago PD?

Vanessa Rojas (Lisseth Chavez) was another off-screen casualty. The character was set up to be a new IU member in season 7, but when the show returned for season 8, she was nowhere to be found. The character was written off between seasons, with the explanation being that she transferred.

Chicago PD's former showrunner claimed that there were plans to bring Rojas back, but the COVID complications led to rewrites and scheduling changes, so the decision was ultimately made to scrap her for good. Too bad.

When did Jay Halstead leave Chicago PD?

Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) leaving was a tough one. The character felt like a pillar of the show, so when he committed one corrupt act too many, and decided to hang up the badge and gun in the season 9 episode "A Way Out," fans were understandably bummed out.

Read More: 3 former characters who could replace Upton on Chicago PD

We've seen text message exchanges from Halstead since, as well as a photo, but his exit felt a bit different because of the impact it had on the still-present Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos). Fittingly, she's the last entry on our list.

Why did Hailey Upton leave Chicago PD?

Hailey Upton was devastated by the departure of and subsequent divorce from Halstead, and it showed. She struggled mightily throughout seasons 10 and 11, and reached a point where it was no longer healthy for her to be in the field.

In the season 11 finale, the character decided that she needed a fresh start, and she left Chicago to pursue a law enforcement career elsewhere (she was seen looking at FBI listings online). Sad, but it was ultimately for the best.