NBC’s long-running police drama Chicago P.D. will begin its thirteenth season without Toya Turner, the actor who brought rookie Officer Kiana Cook to the Intelligence Unit during Season 12. Deadline informed outlets that Turner has been cut as a series regular between May’s finale and the fall premiere, ending her tenure after a single season.
TV Insider later published Turner’s statement, in which she thanked the cast, crew, and “ChiHards” for “the warmth, the laughter, and the generosity you brought every day.” “I’ve evolved through this experience, both as an artist and in my craft,” she added, leaving fans speculating about her next move.
Producers have not provided a narrative or contractual explanation, a silence that recalls the off-screen disappearance of Officer Vanessa Rojas in 2020—an unresolved exit that still frustrates viewers. Reddit threads quickly filled with praise for Turner’s performance and pleas for an on-screen farewell to avoid a similar loose end.
Turner’s promotion to series regular had been touted as part of a broader Season 12 refresh, and she appeared throughout the year, most recently in the Burzek wedding finale. Her departure arrives amid franchise-wide trims: earlier this month Chicago Fire dropped two regulars as NBC eyes leaner budgets after last year’s industry shutdowns.
Despite the shake-up, the network confirmed in May that Chicago P.D. will return for Season 13 in fall 2025, keeping its Wednesday slot alongside Fire and Med. Jason Beghe’s deal ensures Hank Voight remains in charge, while negotiations for other veterans continue.
Industry commentators note that high-profile exits often coincide with routine contract cycles on decade-old dramas, though losing a newcomer after one year is unusual. Whether writers address Cook’s absence, or follow the Rojas precedent and move on without explanation, will become clear when cameras roll in Chicago later this summer. Turner, meanwhile, promised “opportunities ahead” in her Instagram farewell, keeping supporters alert for news of her next project.
