NBC is celebrating 100 years in existence in 2026, and for over a tenth of that time, the One Chicago franchise has been a part of the story. Series c
NBC is celebrating 100 years in existence in 2026, and for over a tenth of that time, the One Chicago franchise has been a part of the story. Series creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt kicked things off with Chicago Fire under Law & Order giant Dick Wolf and his Wolf Entertainment banner back in 2012, establishing a primetime staple for the network that would expand from one emergency service into an entire evening celebrating the uniformed workers of the Windy City. Second to arrive on the scene was Chicago P.D. in 2014, and, riding with the 21st District ever since has been LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater. Hawkins has seen the highs and the lows the department has faced, from promotions to familial drama and heinous crimes, yet there’s one aspect of his television job that still affects him the most after 13 seasons and a 14th in the pipeline.
During a panel with his fellow One Chicago stars Jessy Schram and Hanako Greensmith at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) over the weekend, Hawkins was asked about the feeling of working at NBC and the weight of legacy at such a network. NBC has a history of creating groundbreaking television, from comedy mainstays like The Office and Friends, to revolutionary dramas like Hill Street Blues and The West Wing, and other culture-defining programs like Saturday Night Live. From the lens of how special it is to work at Chicago P.D., Hawkins said, “I think it’s something to say about legacy for sure.” However, in his eyes, the greatest part is getting to play a character that other people who love television as he does are going to learn from.
“But I remember being just a TV head as a little homie,” he continued. “And it’s characters that you learn so much from, and you never think that you get to be one of the characters on the box that another little homie eventually is going to learn from down the line. You know what I mean? So, that’s the part that, for me, hits the most.” His role is especially personal for him because of how close to home it hits. Officer Atwater is also a beacon of representation for an honorable, yet human officer, trying to do his best while looking out for his younger siblings, and Hawkins appreciates the room and the culture NBC has made for him to explore such a role and add “balance” on the tiny screen. He told fans:
“I get to play a cop — not just a cop, but a black cop from Harvey, Illinois, which is my hometown. And I get to represent an honorable character that has integrity that’s not perfect, but naturally, you watch these redeeming qualities through a person, and you can only imagine if people are locked in and paying attention, how much they can learn. And so, I go to work every day, wake up as early as I can, not to act, but to add balance in a way that I know NBC as a network has always offered us as a culture. You know what I’m saying? You watch what you want to watch, but there are often times when you can add balance, and you can make some things make sense for people who didn’t understand. And so, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that at a high level and with this much consistency. I don’t think there’s anything better than that, for real.”
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‘Chicago P.D.’ Is Still Going Strong Heading Into Season 14
Over a decade later, Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and the Intelligence Unit are still among NBC’s most consistent performers, building their own legacy as part of one of the network’s most ambitious franchises. Compared to even some of Wolf’s other programs, there’s a sense of interconnectivity that’s been used to make the One Chicago world feel lived-in and real, making crossovers a regular part of the formula for all three series. The most recent event even brought in a substantial surprise for P.D. fans, bringing back Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) for an explosive reunion as the three emergency teams scrambled to respond to a deadly chemical attack on a passenger plane. With the police procedural getting an early Season 14 renewal alongside its fellow Chicago shows, there’s still plenty of confidence that this franchise can keep delivering mighty, character-centric stories that will not only entertain but teach and inspire, as Hawkins hopes.
Chicago P.D. and the entirety of the One Chicago universe air on Wednesday nights on NBC. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the procedural universe as the network celebrates 100 years.
Release Date
January 8, 2014
Showrunner
Derek Haas
Directors
Nick Gomez, Eriq La Salle, Carl Seaton, Fred Berner, Vincent Misiano, Bethany Rooney, Rohn Schmidt, Sanford Bookstaver, John Hyams, Nicole Rubio, Terry Miller, Takashi Doscher, Brenna Malloy, Lisa Robinson, Marc Roskin, Charles S. Carroll, David Rodriguez, Holly Dale, John Polson, Lin Oeding, Mykelti Williamson, Paul McCrane, Alik Sakharov, Charlotte Brändström
Writers
Craig Gore, Tim Walsh, Timothy J. Sexton, Mike Weiss, Mo Masi, Tiller Russell, Eduardo Javier Canto, Jamie Pachino, Mike Batistick, Cole Maliska, John Dove, Tiffany Bratcher, David Hoselton, Maisha Closson, Kim Rome, Katherine Visconti, Daniel Arkin, Todd Robinson, David Rambo, Denitria Harris-Lawrence, Mick Betancourt, Bryan Gracia
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Marina Squerciati
Kim Burgess
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