Following the departure of LaRoyce Hawkins, we knew it was only a matter of time before Chicago PD would end up filling the vacancy on the Intelligence Unit. The question was never, "Would someone new be brought in?" as reports made it clear that was the plan, but when his replacement would be introduced and how he’d come to join the team. Well, we finally got an answer to these questions in Chicago PD season 14, episode 4, which introduced fans to Naiqui Macabroad as Officer Donovan “Penny” Watts.
Watts is an enthusiastic young beat cop six who has been on the force for six years now and is clearly looking to make a bigger impact. He gets the chance to prove himself when he ends up in the Intelligence Unit’s crosshairs after crossing paths with Intelligence while responding to a stash house shooting
Taking the opportunity presented to him and not wanting to let this case go, having known the victim, Watts helps Voight, Burgess, Imani, and Ruzek investigate the scene. His familiarity with the neighborhood proves useful when he recognizes a wrapper found near the getaway car, leading him and Ruzek to a nearby corner store. Watts uses his relationship with the owner to obtain security footage that helps the Intelligence Unit identify three young suspects connected to the 4 Corner Boys. After helping out with chasing down the lead, Voight initially sends him back to his regular duties; Watts can't shake the case and continues investigating on his own.
His determination eventually brings him face-to-face with Intelligence again when he independently tracks down suspect Trez Brown at an arcade, arriving just as Intelligence closes in. Watts helps prevent a shooting by disarming one suspect and later proves instrumental in talking another into cooperating. However, his involvement doesn't end there, as he disobeys Voight's orders to wait for backup and enters a house where two armed men are holding a woman and her son hostage. Luckily, his actions help Intelligence save the woman and her son, and his work on the case catches Voight’s attention.
After closing the case, Voight comes to see Watts and offers him a position on the Intelligence Unit, noting that he’s been down a member and was impressed with what he saw. Watts happily accepts the job offer to join the Intelligence Unit.
Chicago PD gives Naiqui Macabroad the chance to make a mark on TV
While the One Chicago franchise has been known to bring in familiar faces from hit shows to join its ranks, it’s also been a launching pad for many actors’ careers, and this list now includes Naiqui Macabroad.
You see, prior to joining the cast of Chicago PD, Macabroad’s acting credits consist mostly of guest parts on various shows that included the odd one-off guest appearance. The list of shows Macabroad has guest starred on prior to joining the cast of Chicago PD includes Diarra from Detroit, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, The Conners, Crashing, Rise, Timeless, and Power.
His biggest TV role prior to Chicago PD came via a seven-episode guest arc on the Crackle financial drama StartUp, which followed the story of a desperate banker, a Haitian-American gang lord, and a Cuban-American hacker who are forced to work together to unwittingly create their version of the American dream: organized crime 2.0.
Like many stars who have joined the One Chicago franchise, Macabroad is not entirely new to the Wolf Entertainment franchise, though. You see, he previously guest starred in an episode of Law & Order, a role that put him in the Wolf Entertainment orbit and likely led him to his role on Chicago PD.
Hopefully, through this role, Macabroad has finally found a character he’ll be able to embody for more than just a few episodes. I know I’m certainly excited to get to see Watts settle into the Intelligence Unit and am optimistic he’ll stick around for the long haul!
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