Amy Morton Leaving Chicago P.D.: Trudy Platt’s Final Season Confirmed, Actress Shares Emotional Statement
The hallways of the 21st District will never sound the same. In a major announcement that has sent shockwaves through the One Chicago fandom, veteran actress Amy Morton has officially confirmed she will be exiting Chicago P.D. after the upcoming Season 13. Morton, who has brought the beloved, no-nonsense Desk Sergeant Trudy Platt to life since the show’s inception, shared a heartfelt statement indicating that her time on the long-running NBC police drama has reached its natural conclusion.
Morton’s departure marks one of the most significant cast changes in the show’s history, impacting one of the last remaining original characters. For over a decade, Trudy Platt has been the unwavering, tough-love backbone of the precinct, the formidable gatekeeper to the Intelligence Unit, and a fan-favorite for her razor-sharp wit and surprisingly tender heart.
Amy Morton’s Emotional Farewell Statement
The news broke as production for the highly anticipated Season 13 premiere began. In a statement released to the public and shared across social media, Amy Morton confirmed the difficult decision, emphasizing a sense of professional completion and a desire to explore new artistic horizons.
“My time on Chicago P.D. has come to a close. This show challenged me, sharpened me, and revealed what I’m made of. I’ve evolved through this experience, both as an artist and in my craft, and I’m walking away with depth, clarity, and momentum for whatever comes next. It’s simply time to say goodbye to the character who has been my home for over ten years. I am eternally grateful to Dick Wolf, the entire production team, my incredible castmates, and, most importantly, the dedicated fans who love Platt as much as I do.”
The announcement, while emotional, underscores the immense respect the actress has for the role and the entire Chicago P.D. universe. Morton’s nuanced portrayal transformed what could have been a minor, desk-bound character into a pillar of the series, mentoring younger officers like Kim Burgess and engaging in one of the most popular crossover relationships in the franchise with Randall “Mouch” McHolland on Chicago Fire.
The Legacy of Trudy Platt: An Enduring Fan Favorite
Sergeant Trudy Platt is an undeniable icon of the One Chicago universe. She debuted in the first season of Chicago P.D. in 2014 and quickly carved out a niche as the 21st District’s formidable receptionist, a character defined by her dry sarcasm, uncompromising ethics, and unexpectedly deep capacity for empathy.
Her journey has been one of the franchise’s most compelling background stories:
- The Mentor: She was instrumental in training and guiding patrol officers like Kim Burgess and Kevin Atwater, often disguised behind a gruff exterior. Her tough-love approach was consistently framed as a way to ensure the young officers were ready for the brutal realities of the job.
- The Voice of Reason: While Hank Voight’s Intelligence Unit often operated in moral grey areas, Platt served as an anchor to the rules and integrity of the precinct. Her mere presence in the squad room was often enough to keep the unit grounded.
- The Unlikely Romance: Her fan-favorite marriage to Firefighter Mouch (Christian Stolte) of Firehouse 51 introduced a soft, comedic, and genuinely loving side to her personality, bridging the P.D. and Fire series in a way few other characters could.
The emotional resonance of Platt’s character was perhaps most recently highlighted during the massive One Chicago crossover event earlier this year, where she was at the center of a life-threatening incident, prompting an outpouring of anxiety and support from fans worried about her fate. Her ability to survive and bounce back solidified her status as the indestructible heart of the 21st District.
The Burning Question: How Will Trudy Platt Exit?
With Amy Morton confirming Season 13 as her last, attention immediately turns to how the writers and showrunners plan to write off such an integral character. Chicago P.D. has a history of dramatic and, at times, controversial exits (e.g., Sophia Bush‘s Erin Lindsay and Jesse Lee Soffer‘s Jay Halstead). Given Platt’s standing, her farewell will undoubtedly be a major event.
Fan speculation is already running rampant, centered on a few key possibilities:
- Retirement with Mouch: The most anticipated and perhaps most popular theory is a peaceful, well-deserved retirement. Given her age and her husband Mouch’s long tenure on Chicago Fire, a joint decision to leave Chicago and travel or simply enjoy their golden years would provide the emotional payoff many fans crave. This would be the “happily ever after” for the couple.
- Promotion or Transfer: Platt could be promoted to a higher-ranking command position, forcing her to leave the 21st District. This would honor her experience and skill while keeping her technically “alive” in the One Chicago universe for potential future cameos.
- A Heroic Sacrifice: While less desired by the fandom, a dramatic, heroic exit involving a dangerous case or a final stand to protect one of her officers—like Burgess or Atwater—is a possibility, given the high-stakes nature of the series. However, after her near-death experience in the recent crossover, another health scare seems unlikely and would likely disappoint viewers hoping for a satisfying conclusion.
The upcoming Season 13 is expected to dedicate a significant portion of its storyline to honoring the character, potentially bringing back focus to the uniformed patrol side of the precinct that Platt commands, a storyline that has often been sidelined in recent years. This would allow Amy Morton the necessary screen time and a fitting narrative send-off.
A Turning Point for Chicago P.D.
Amy Morton’s exit marks a significant turning point for Chicago P.D. and the broader One Chicago landscape. The show, which premiered in 2014, has experienced numerous changes, and only a handful of actors remain from the original cast.
The departure of a cornerstone like Platt leaves a massive void in the heart of the precinct, both literally and figuratively. She was the grounding force, the source of necessary comic relief, and the moral compass in the non-Intelligence world of the 21st. The challenge for Season 13 and beyond will be to find a new equilibrium and, perhaps, introduce a new face to fill the desk at the front—though whoever takes on that role will face enormous pressure from the devoted fan base.
In the meantime, viewers can prepare for an emotional final season, one dedicated to celebrating the legacy of the legendary Sergeant Trudy Platt. It is a testament to Amy Morton’s exceptional talent that saying goodbye to a character who mostly sits behind a desk feels like losing a core member of the Chicago P.D. family. The final season promises to be a powerful tribute to one of television’s most enduring police sergeants. 🚨❤️
