Want to know why Halstead leave Chicago PD? The popular crime drama series Chicago PD premiered as a mid-season replacement to Chicago Fire back in 2014. The series revolves around patrol officers and the Intelligence Unit of the 21st District of the Chicago Police Department. Showrunners talked about Chicago P.D. being a riveting police drama about the men and women of the Chicago Police Department’s elite Intelligence Unit.
As the makers said, it aims to combat the city’s most heinous offense – organized crime, drug trafficking, high-profile murders, and more. As the series has been running for a long time and has become one of the most popular shows of all time, fans were recently taken by surprise as one of the most beloved actors of the series has left the show while the writers have given him a proper farewell from the show. Let us take a look at all the details and lesser-known facts to know why Halstead leave Chicago PD.
Why Did Halstead Leave Chicago PD?
Series actor Jesse Lee Soffer earlier took fans by surprise as he earlier confirmed that he would leave his role on the NBC show in August 2022. His real-life character, Detective Jay Halstead, made his debut back in 2014 and soon became one of the most fan-favorite characters in the long-running running series while appearing in all 187 episodes.
Fans have been taking to social media to talk about the actor’s departure as Halstead was given a proper farewell from the show when he accidentally killed a man in episode 3, which finally made him decide to resign and rejoin the army. Benjamin Levy Aguilar has also opened up about Jesse’s departure, saying how it has been like art imitating life in a way because he and Jesse became really good friends and how he has been like a mentor for him. Aguilar further added how the same way he took in character, Jesse took him in as well.
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What Did Jesse Lee Soffer Say About His Exit?
The actor further stated as he thanked his incredible fans for their unconditional support during the past 10 years and further expressed his deepest gratitude to Dick Wolf and everyone at Wolf Entertainment, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, Rick Eid, Gwen Sigan, NBC, Universal Television, his fellow castmates, and their incredible crew. Take a look at the social media post penned down by the actor.
10 years in a blink. I couldn’t be more proud. Thank you for going on This journey with us. I love our fans. Season 10 premiers tonight at 10/9 central on @NBC @WolfEnt @NBCOneChicago pic.twitter.com/87CCxnhISc
— Jesse Lee Soffer (@jesseleesoffer) September 21, 2022
The actor further added that creating this hour of drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show. The actor also took this opportunity as he said that he will always be proud of his time as Det. Jay Halstead. Jesse’s on-screen partner, Tracy, also extended her support while she showed some love to her castmate of six years as she took to social media and wrote, “Until next time Jay Halstead.”
Series Showrunner Opens Up About Halstead’s Exit
Series Showrunner Gwen Sigan has to address Halstead’s exit and explained that the writers put a lot of care into crafting Halstead’s exit. It was further claimed that they all really wanted to do justice for Halstead’s character as best they could and to who he has been for the show as the makers really wanted to make that decision to leave his own decision.
Gwen Sigan also admitted that it was important to keep the character alive and keep him out in the world trying to do good, and the idea of him returning to who he was, gave them that opportunity. While talking about Halstead’s departure, she explained how the army has always been integral to who Halstead is, and she thinks that time with the rangers shaped him, his morals, and his compass, and it was fitting that he would want to get back to that and some sort of simplicity and an idea of right and wrong.
