Major Chicago PD storylines to remember for season 12

Chicago PD signed off with a powerful season 11 finale, so here's what's happening in season 12!

Like the other NBC shows, Chicago PD had a delayed 11th season due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Thankfully, the show returned, and a good season was built on various plots, which included how Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) had divorced Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) while Burgess and Ruzek finally got engaged. 

Torres got way too involved during an undercover assignment, romancing a gang leader's wife before using her as an asset. Atwater also got close to an anti-police activist who broke up with him when she discovered he was a cop. Yet the finale was a powerful hour to close out the season.

What happened on the Chicago PD season 11 finale?

Voight found himself held captive by Matson (Dennis Flanagan), the serial killer the team had been tracking for months. Matson brutally tortured Voight, who found strength in a vision of his long-dead friend Al Olinsky (Elias Koteas). 

That gave the team time to track Voight down with Matson wounding Hailey before Voight broke free of his bonds to beat him to death. Voight and Upton had a warm talk about how much she meant, but it was time for her to move on.

After mulling over offers from the FBI, DEA and others, Upton was last seen taking a taxi to O'Hare Airport to begin a new journey in her life. 

Cast

Who's out?

Obviously, Tracy Spiridakosis is gone as Upton has left the series. It's also unknown if we'll be seeing more of Jo Petrovic (Bojana Novakovic), the SVU cop who seemed to be set up as Upton's replacement. However, when her drinking affected her job, Petrovic was seen checking into rehab.

Who's in?

Upton's spot won't be empty for long as Intelligence recruits patrol officer Kiana Cook (Toya Turner) as a new cop. Also, Shawn Hatosy will have a recurring role as Deputy Chief Charlie Reid, who may take an interesting approach to handling Voight and the team's cases. 

What's coming in Chicago PD season 12?

The premiere shows Voight still recovering from his ordeal and Uptons' departure and becomes "more introspective," as showrunner Gwen Sigan told TVLine. As for Cook, "she has been through a lot within the police department and is looking for a place where she fits in… She's going to find a family within the 21st."

Burgess and Ruzek may be planning a wedding amid their work and viewers should expect spotlight episodes on Ruzek and Torres. Also, Atwater may get a new romance, although they're not saying with who as the team goes back to investigating shorter cases rather than the longer story arcs of the last two seasons. 

So, with a couple of new cops on board and some new character dynamics, this season looks to be a fun new ride for the hit series!

Chicago PD season 12 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c on NBC.