What happened to Hank Voight's dad Richard on Chicago PD?

Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) is the centerpiece of Chicago PD. It's impossible to imagine the show without him, and it's largely due to the fact that he anchors the rest of the cast. He's the constant, the baseline from which the rest of the IU go about their storylines.

It's been a difficult couple of years for Voight, given the departure of so many close friends, and the death of those he grew close with in the field. One would imagine this recent stretch to be the worst period in the officer's life, but sadly, his pre-show backstory is just as troubling.

Hank Voight's dad Richard was also a CPD member

Hank Voight comes from a police family. His father, Richard, was a member of the Chicago police department, and a major influence on him growing up. According to the Chicago PD Wiki, Hank made up his mind at an early age that he would follow in Richard's footsteps and one day wield a badge of his own.

Then, predictably, tragedy struck. Richard Voight was shot and killed in the line of duty. Hank was only eight years old when it happened, and traumatized by the loss. Instead of deter him from his dream of becoming a policeman, however, Richard's death only spurred Hank to double down.

Hank Voight grew up with a compulsion to protect the city from the kind of people who killed his father, and having spend a decade plus watching him in action, it makes complete sense. It also, sadly, informed Hank's relationship with his own son, Justin (Josh Segarra).

Voight was inspired by his dad to protect others

Josh was the antithesis of a wannabe cop, in that he frequently dealt with people on the wrong side of the law. Josh and Hank were often at each other's throats, and the former's propensity for falling in with the wrong crowd eventually got him killed.

Jason Beghe told CinemaBlend that the goal with Voight in the upcoming season is to explore the trauma that he's suffered throughout his life, and strive to make peace with it. "You get hurt and you end up with a scar," the actor explained. "You know, you live. To continue that metaphor, there's some kind of a psychological limp, but he's still walking."

We hope the character finds some semblance of happiness in the near future.