Chicago P.D. isn’t afraid to go dark. But one recent episode almost didn’t air—not because of network censorship, but because the writers themselves were uncomfortable with how far it went.
The episode involved a brutal child trafficking ring run by corrupt city officials. It was based loosely on real events. But as the script developed, writers realized they were blurring the line between drama and trauma.
“There was one scene we just couldn’t write,” a staffer said. “We all stared at the whiteboard in silence.”
Lead actor LaRoyce Hawkins (Atwater) reportedly spoke up during the table read, questioning whether the scene was too triggering. Ultimately, it was rewritten with more emotional weight—and less graphic violence.
Still, the episode shook the team. Some writers took time off afterward.
“P.D. isn’t just cop TV,” one said. “It’s our mirror. And sometimes what we see in that mirror is almost too much to bear.”
