Kiana Cook has officially exited Chicago P.D. ahead of the season 13 premiere, as actress Toya Turner will not be returning as a series regular. Unfortunately, Cook’s journey on the NBC police drama was short-lived. Turner first appeared in season 12, episode 2, meaning she remained part of the core cast for only one season.
Cook originally joined the series as a patrol officer before earning a spot on the Intelligence Unit after helping take down Emily Martel’s killer. Hank Voight was impressed by her instincts and determination, leading to her official recruitment. Over the remainder of the season, audiences gradually learned more about Cook’s background and personality. Sadly, her story in the One Chicago universe has now come to an early end.
Kiana Cook Officially Leaves the Intelligence Unit in Season 13
Toya Turner does not reprise her role as Kiana Cook in the Chicago P.D. season 13 premiere. Instead, her departure happens offscreen, making the season 12 finale her final on-screen appearance. As a result, the explanation for her absence is delivered through brief dialogue from other characters in the season 13 opener.
Season 12 ended with the Intelligence Unit being dismantled, and when season 13 begins, its members are scattered across different assignments. Voight is working with the Rapid Response Team, Atwater and Ruzek return to patrol duty, while Burgess and Torres are temporarily sidelined as they wait to be reinstated.
Cook, however, chooses not to return at all. Voight later reveals that she has accepted a permanent position with the 17th District. During a conversation with Commander Devlin, Voight even uses Cook’s departure as part of his argument for why Intelligence must be reassembled as soon as possible.
When Voight eventually strong-arms Devlin into restoring the team at the end of the season 13 premiere, Cook is notably absent. The final scene reunites Voight, Atwater, Burgess, Ruzek, Torres, and Trudy Platt at the 21st District—confirming that Intelligence is officially back, but without Cook.
Why Toya Turner Left the One Chicago Universe
So far, neither Toya Turner nor NBC has publicly provided a detailed explanation for her exit. However, the most likely reason appears to be a creative decision by the show’s writers and producers. Season 13 may simply be heading in a direction that no longer included Cook’s character.
This decision surprised many fans, especially since Cook had only just been introduced in season 12 and still had plenty of untapped story potential. Her early departure left viewers wondering whether behind-the-scenes budget restructuring may have played a role, similar to recent cast reductions on Chicago Fire.
After the news became public, Turner addressed her exit on social media with an emotional farewell message, thanking the cast, crew, and fans for their support. She described Chicago P.D. as a challenging and transformative chapter in her career and expressed excitement for what lies ahead.
Can Kiana Cook Ever Return to Chicago P.D.?
Because Cook was neither killed off nor written out of the Chicago Police Department entirely, the door is not completely closed on a possible return. She is still technically working within CPD at the 17th District, meaning a future crossover appearance is not impossible.
However, the odds of a comeback appear slim. Turner’s farewell statement strongly suggested a final goodbye, and the show has already filled the vacancy left by Cook. In her place, Voight recruits ATF agent Eva Imani, played by Arienne Mandi, at the end of the season 13 premiere. After working a case together, Voight offers her a permanent role on the Intelligence Unit, which she accepts.
With Imani now occupying the final spot on the team, Cook’s return seems unlikely—at least for now. Still, as Chicago P.D. has proven many times before, nothing is ever completely off the table in this universe.
