Chicago P.D. Showrunner Regrets Killing Off Corrupt Cop

Deputy Chief Charlie Reid, portrayed by Shawn Hatosy, served as a corrupt officer and a significant obstacle for Sergeant Hank Voight in Season 12 of the NBC series "Chicago P.D." The character's tenure concluded in the season's final episode, when he was killed by Rennie Otero. Showrunner Gwen Sigan disclosed in an interview that the writing staff had extensively debated sparing Reid's life. This deliberation stemmed from their positive experience working with Hatosy and his impactful portrayal of the character.

Sigan explained that while they acknowledged Reid's dark nature and the difficulty in redeeming him, they struggled with the decision to kill him off. The writers found Reid to be an excellent foil for Jason Beghe's Voight, and Hatosy's professional and reliable performance was highly valued. However, after considerable discussion, the team could not devise a narrative path that would justify keeping Reid alive, concluding that his demise was the story's destined endpoint.