The Chicago River glistens under a pale winter sun, its steel-gray surface broken by ripples from a passing tour boat. The wind whips down the canyons of glass and stone, carrying the scent of roasted chestnuts from a corner vendor. In the middle of this city’s restless heartbeat, the cast of Chicago PD walks into a familiar precinct set — a home away from home for more than a decade.
“This city, these people — they’re part of who we are now,” says Jason Beghe, his voice low and weathered, like Sergeant Voight himself. “You can’t spend this much time telling stories here and not have the place get under your skin.”
From the bitter cold nights shooting on the South Side to the golden haze of summer mornings along the lakefront, Chicago has become more than a backdrop — it’s a living, breathing character in the show. Tracy Spiridakos, who plays Hailey Upton, smiles at the thought. “There’s a grit here, but also a warmth,” she says. “It mirrors the Intelligence Unit. We see the hard edges, but we also see the heart.”
The connection extends beyond the fictional walls of District 21. LaRoyce Hawkins, a Chicago native, feels it most deeply. “When we’re out on location, I’ll see people watching from their windows, or someone will stop me on the street to say they love what we’re doing,” he says. “That’s not just support — that’s trust. And we take that seriously.”
Over the years, the cast has navigated countless storylines that echo real issues facing the city: violence, corruption, loss, redemption. Patrick John Flueger (Adam Ruzek) reflects on the responsibility that comes with telling those stories. “We’re not just making TV,” he says. “We’re reflecting realities that people here live every day. And that means we have to approach it with honesty and respect.”
Marina Squerciati (Kim Burgess) nods in agreement. “The people of Chicago are part of our cast, in a way,” she says. “They let us into their neighborhoods, into their daily lives, and that shapes the way we play these characters. It’s personal now.”
Jason Beghe recalls a night shoot on a frigid January evening, the kind where breath turns to ice in seconds. “We were doing a scene under the ‘L’ tracks,” he says. “It’s two in the morning, and there are people huddled up in coats, watching us work. And I thought — they’re part of this, too. They’re as much a part of Chicago PD as we are.”
The cast’s camaraderie is evident on set, in the way they rib each other between takes, or quietly check in during intense emotional scenes. Years of long days and high-stakes scripts have forged a bond that feels almost familial. “It’s like a real unit,” Spiridakos says. “You know who’s got your back, and you show up for each other — on camera and off.”
Hawkins describes it as a rhythm they’ve all learned to move in. “We know each other’s strengths, each other’s tells. That makes the work richer because we’re not just acting — we’re responding to people we truly know.”
That authenticity resonates with fans far beyond Chicago. Viewers around the world have connected to the show’s blend of action, moral complexity, and emotional depth. But for the cast, the most meaningful feedback often comes from locals — officers, community leaders, or residents who see their city reflected onscreen.
“There was a woman who came up to me once,” Squerciati remembers. “She said, ‘You play Burgess like you care about us.’ And that meant more to me than any review ever could.”
The city itself often shapes the tone of the season. Summer shoots bring out bright, bustling street scenes, while winter adds a stark, almost noir quality. “Chicago doesn’t hide who it is,” Flueger says. “It’s beautiful and tough, all at once. And that’s exactly the kind of storytelling we do.”
As the series moves forward, the cast is keenly aware that their connection to Chicago is part of what keeps the show grounded. “We’re not outsiders telling stories about this place,” Hawkins says. “We’re here, we’re in it, we’re learning from it.”
Beghe puts it simply: “You can’t fake Chicago. And you can’t fake the love we have for it.”
Before heading back to set, the cast gathers near the precinct doors. Outside, a group of fans waits in the cold, bundled in scarves and hats, some clutching posters, others just hoping for a glimpse or a smile. The actors wave, a few stop for quick selfies, and there’s laughter that cuts through the winter air.
“This city has given us so much,” Spiridakos says quietly as she slips back inside. “The least we can do is give something back — even if it’s just telling its stories the right way.”
In Chicago PD, the Intelligence Unit is a family bound by loyalty, forged in the fires of a city that demands resilience. But beyond the scripts and the sets, the real bond is between the cast, the crew, and the people who live in the place they’ve come to call their own.
