Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the Chicago PD season 12 premiere, “Ten Ninety-Nine.”
Intelligence is busy whenChicago PDseason 12 opens, but while the characters are flying by, solving cases left and right,one person is noticeably missing — Officer Kim Burgess.Marina Squerciati’s character is nowhere to be seen throughout the episode. Instead, Sergeant Hank Voight, Officer Kevin Atwater, Officer Adam Ruzek, Officer Dante Torres, and newbie Detective Emily Martel are handling the inflow of cases coming in and out of the 21st District duringtheChicago PDseason 12 premiere.
Aside from Burgess,Chicago PDseason 12, episode 1, also doesn’t feature the introduction of new series regular, Toya Turner as Officer Kiana Cook.
Following Voight’s brush with death and Detective HaileyUpton’s exit during theChicago PDseason 11 finale, the members of the Intelligence Unit are keeping themselves busy. Well,Voight is keeping everyone busy to avoid dealing with his own issues.Voight clearly isn’t handling his recovery, Upton leaving, or hallucinating Alvin Olinsky while on the brink of death very well. Unfortunately, while all of this is happening, Voight is also missing one of his top officers.
Burgess Is Away At A Conference In The Chicago PD Season 12 Premiere
Marina Squerciati Doesn’t Appear In The Episode
At the beginning ofChicago PDseason 12, episode 1, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” Ruzek clues the audience in on where Burgess is during the episode.Burgess is away from the Intelligence Unit and Chicago as she is attending a NAWLEE (National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives) conference.After talking to his fiancée on the phone, Atwater asks how Burgess is doing at the conference. However, viewers don’t learn much more than that, and, unfortunately, it’s unclear how long Marina Squerciati’sOne Chicagocharacter has been gone inChicago PDor when she will be back.
Shawn Hatosy
Charlie Reid
However, Ruzek informs Atwater and Martel thatBurgess is contemplating returning to Chicago early.She heard about their extensive caseload and presumably wants to come back to Intelligence to help. Nevertheless, Burgess evidently isn’t swayed to return early (or Ruzek reassures her they can handle it and persuades her to stay at the conference). So, Squerciati never appears in the season 12 premiere oftheOne ChicagoTV show.
Why Burgess' Absent In Chicago PD Season 12 Premiere
Intelligence Is Swamped With Cases
The exact reasoning behind why Burgess is away at a conference and not helping Intelligence with their overwhelming number of cases isn’t clarified duringtheChicago PDepisode. Viewers never learn if Burgess wanted to go to the conference or if she was invited. Martel does comment that Burgess should stay because the CPD (Chicago Police Department) would want her to. So,Burgess may be representing the CPD at this conference.Consequently, her role there would be quite significant and make sense. Still, Burgess' coworkers are completely swamped with numerous tragic cases that they could use her help on.
Chicago PD Season 12’s Upton Replacement Is Already Great (Despite No One Official Yet)
Chicago PD narrowed down the possibilities for Upton’s replacement in season 12, and it’s already one of the show’s best decisions in a long time.
Of course, the main problem regarding Intelligence’s caseload can be tracked back to Voight. He’s the one who is busying himself with work. Therefore, Voight’s actions are directly affecting his team and their ability to solve the various cases that come across their desks. Hopefully, that will change going forward andBurgess can return to a calmer Intelligence UnitinChicago PDseason 12.
When Will Burgess Return To Intelligence
Marina Squerciati Appears In Episode 3
The good news is that Burgess won’t be away from Chicago for very long (especially after theChicago PDseason 12 premiere’s tragic ending). She returns in episode 3, “Off Switch.” It isn’t clear in the first place why Marina Squerciati didn’t reprise her role in the first episode, but she’s not amongtheOne Chicagoactors not returning in 2024. So, viewers will see Burgess back in action in episode 3. Conferences typically don’t run for that long, andBurgess will undoubtedly want to be there for her fiancé after Martel’s death.
New episodes ofChicago PDseason 12 air on Wednesdays at 10 pm ET on NBC. Season 12 reportedly features 22 episodes, bringing the show back to its normal episode order.
At the end ofChicago PDseason 12, episode 1, Ruzek and Martel are driving when they hear gunshots. The two characters, who attended the police academy together, get out of the car, draw their guns, and look for the source of the gunfire. While Ruzek is able to shield himself behind a car, Martel doesn’t get so lucky when the gunshots return. Ruzek looks back and seesMartel lying on the ground with a bullet hole in her head.Martel’s death will undoubtedly significantly affect Ruzek, and Burgess should be around to comfort him inChicago PDseason 12.
Chicago P.D.
Cast
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
