When it comes to Chicago P.D., fans are quick to recall the intense glances of Hank Voight, the emotional strength of Kim Burgess, and the resilience of Adam Ruzek. But if you look closely at the numbers—specifically, the screen-time analytics spanning all 12 seasons—the top three most featured characters on the show might catch even die-hard fans off guard.
According to a detailed analysis of appearances, dialogue time, and episode-centric arcs, the characters who have had the most screen presence are: Hank Voight, Jay Halstead, and Kevin Atwater. While Voight’s status as the team’s enigmatic leader almost guaranteed his place at the top, the presence of Halstead and Atwater in the top tier speaks volumes about the deeper narrative shifts that have taken place behind the scenes.
Hank Voight: The Unshakeable Core
Let’s start with the obvious. Jason Beghe’s portrayal of Sergeant Hank Voight has been the backbone of Chicago P.D. since its inception. Voight is a commanding figure—gruff, morally ambiguous, and fiercely loyal to his team. As the commander of the Intelligence Unit, he’s rarely off-screen, constantly at the center of investigations, team decisions, and internal conflicts.
His high screen time reflects more than just leadership. Voight’s complex character arc—grappling with loss, dealing with internal affairs, and evolving his own ethical code—has kept him narratively indispensable. Even as the show experiments with more ensemble-driven storytelling, it’s clear that Chicago P.D. still revolves around Voight’s stormy moral compass.
Jay Halstead: The Ghost of Conscience
Jay Halstead’s inclusion in the top three might be a surprise, especially considering Jesse Lee Soffer’s departure from the show in Season 10. However, his longstanding tenure from the pilot up until that point, coupled with his major roles in key plotlines, earns him his spot in the rankings.
Halstead was often the team’s ethical anchor—the soldier-turned-detective who brought empathy and integrity to a unit often dominated by hard edges. His relationships, especially with Hailey Upton and Voight, offered emotional depth and internal tension. Even in absence, Halstead’s legacy looms large. The aftershocks of his decisions—particularly his departure—are still felt in Season 13, shaping Upton’s choices and the team’s cohesion.
Kevin Atwater: The Quiet Rise of a Leader
Perhaps the most compelling surprise is Kevin Atwater. Played with depth and stoic strength by LaRoyce Hawkins, Atwater has quietly climbed the ranks—not only within the Intelligence Unit but in the eyes of fans and showrunners alike. His consistent screen presence highlights a subtle but powerful evolution from supporting character to potential leader.
Atwater’s journey has been marked by episodes that tackle racial profiling, police reform, and his own struggle to bridge community and badge. While others in the unit often lean toward morally gray decisions, Atwater typically chooses the harder right over the easier wrong. In recent seasons, especially Season 12, he’s been positioned as Voight’s conscience—a voice of reason in a world of chaos.
Now, as Chicago P.D. heads into Season 13, fans are increasingly wondering: is Atwater being groomed to take command? LaRoyce Hawkins recently teased in interviews that a promotion might be on the horizon, and with Voight beginning to reflect more than react, the idea of shared or even shifting leadership isn’t out of the question.
And What About Burgess and Ruzek?
Though Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek don’t make the top three in sheer screen time, they’re not far behind—and their impact is immeasurable. Burgess, played by Marina Squerciati, remains the emotional heartbeat of the show. Her relationship with Ruzek, her trauma recovery, and her role as a mother have all added dimensions rarely afforded in a police procedural.
Ruzek, portrayed by Patrick John Flueger, has also been a focal point of dramatic arcs, particularly in Season 12’s finale, where he takes a bullet for Burgess. With Season 13 promising a recovery and redemption arc for him, it’s likely his screen presence will spike even more.
