Chicago PD casts major new character following LaRoyce Hawkins exit from popular police drama

Chicago PD has introduced a new regular to Hank Voight's Intelligence Unit, with Naiqui Macabroad joining the long-running NBC drama as Officer Donovan "Penny" Watts following LaRoyce Hawkins's exit earlier in season 14.

Macabroad made his debut on Wednesday 28 October in the season's fourth episode, My Eye, My Call, where Watts is introduced as a patrol officer working the 11th District-Harrison beat.

The episode saw him be introduced after a murder on his patch brings him into contact with Voight (Jason Beghe) and the Intelligence Unit. His bravery and his close community ties soon intrigue Voight who, by the end of the episode, offers Watts a place on the team.

Season 14 premiered on NBC in the US earlier this month, with episodes streaming on Peacock the following day in the US. The premiere, Demolition, picked up after the season 13 finale and saw the Intelligence Unit investigate the shooting of a parole officer.

Voight was forced to let an outsider into the bullpen and Officer Eva Imani faced a difficult decision involving her sister.

Alongside Beghe, the returning line-up includes Marina Squerciati as Detective Kim Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Officer Dante Torres, Arienne Mandi as Officer Eva Imani and Amy Morton as Desk Sgt Trudy Platt.

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Macabroad's arrival fills the gap left by Hawkins, who departed as Kevin Atwater in the season's second episode, Don't Blink, after 14 seasons on the show.

Atwater was shot while on duty but thankfully survives due to his vest, prompting him to reconsider the risks of the job now that he and Tasha (Karen Obilom) have a newborn son, Malcolm. He chooses to leave the front lines, accepting a teaching role at a police academy and moving away from Chicago with his family.

Before Chicago PD, Macabroad's credits included appearances in Crackle's Startup, NBC's Law & Order, Starz's Power and NBC's Timeless.

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Authors

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.