Chicago P.D. is all about crime. It shows brave men and women in Chicago Police Department’s Intelligence Unit. They battle bad guys to keep city safe. Tough Sergeant Hank Voight leads this bunch. Detectives, officers and even uniforms team up to crack cases. But wait, they also deal with personal drama. Because who does not love a little chaos in work life, right?

Meet the characters from Chicago P.D.

Hank Voight

Oh man, Voight is that gravel-voiced, no-nonsense boss who looks like he eats corruption for breakfast and still cares too much about his team — like, he’ll yell at you and then bring you soup at 2 a.m. He’s ruthless when he needs to be but has this weird soft spot for people who remind him of his own messed-up past (don’t tell him I said soft spot). He follows his own rulebook half the time and will stomp on red tape with a smug grin, which is terrifying and kind of thrilling. Also he drinks terrible coffee and probably has an unreadable stack of files and regrets on his desk, but insists he’s fine.

Jay Halstead

Halstead is the ex-military, steady-handed guy who says little and means a lot; he’s the kind of partner who notices the tiny details and then surprises you by being awkwardly sentimental about them. He’s practical and moral to a fault, except when he’s being stubbornly reckless in a way that makes you roll your eyes but also trust him completely. There’s this low-key warmth under all that gravel that makes him a great listener — and a bad poker player, I’m pretty sure. Also he loves dogs? Or he hates public displays of affection? Either way, he’s quietly heroic.

Adam Ruzek

Ruzek is loud, impulsive, and honestly kind of a romantic disaster but somehow charming about it, like a walking rom-com subplot with a taser. He’s ambitious and cocky, always ready with a wisecrack, yet he carries this real loyalty to the team that sneaks up on you when he does something unexpectedly thoughtful. He’ll argue with a suspect at noon and then bring donuts for everyone at midnight because he forgot a birthday but remembered snacks. Slightly messy, a bit stubborn, and probably owns too many leather jackets — or just one that he wears to death.

Kim Burgess

Burgess is the heart-on-her-sleeve rookie-turned-pro who’s equal parts fierce and adorable, like she could arrest you and then knit you an apology sweater. She’s determined and optimistic, sometimes to the point of throwing herself at problems headfirst, which is both inspiring and kind of terrifying for her partners. She grows into this tough, capable cop but never loses the awkward, hopeful energy that makes her relatable and fun. Oh and she’s surprisingly good at organizing things? Or is that just the file drawer myth people tell new recruits.

Kevin Atwater

Atwater is the steady, principled anchor who balances muscle with empathy — he’ll secure the scene and then sit down and talk to witnesses like a neighbor at a block party. He’s thoughtful, fair, and has this quiet leadership that doesn’t need to shout to be heard, which is actually way more intimidating when he finally speaks up. There’s a cool mix of grit and compassion; he’s tough in a way that’s almost polite, if that makes sense. Also he’s embarrassingly into small things like collectible pens or fancy sneakers, I can’t remember which but it’s something charming.

Trudy Platt

Platt is the heart and grandma energy of the precinct, and yes she’ll tell you when you’re being an idiot but also bake you cookies and keep your secrets. She’s sassy, practical, and somehow both old-school and unreasonably hip — like she knows everyone’s birthdays and also knows the latest slang (badly). She runs the front desk with iron efficiency and a surprising softness that makes the chaotic office feel like home. Also she either has an endless supply of casseroles or a catalog of grudges; probably both.

Alvin Olinsky

Olinsky is the gruff, weathered veteran who’s seen too much and made peace with none of it, and yet he’s the person you want standing next to you in a firefight. He’s got a dry sense of humor, an unpolished loyalty, and a tendency to bail you out of trouble in ways that are dramatic and morally questionable. People think he’s all bark, but there’s a big, stubbornly tender center if you can get past the scowl and the cigarettes. Also he hums old jazz to himself maybe, or argues with pigeons — I’m fuzzy on that detail but it’s comic relief.

Antonio Dawson

Antonio is the calm, moral compass type who balances family life with detective work like a pro, even when chaos tries to crash both parties. He’s sharp, empathetic, and has this way of remembering the little human details that make his interviews actually work — he cares and you can tell. He’s principled in a way that sometimes gets him in trouble, because he won’t bend on things that matter, but he’s also quietly funny if you catch him off guard. Also he probably owns a BBQ grill he’s very proud of, or was a terrible cook once — depends on the story you hear.

Hailey Upton

Upton is the sleek, deadly competent detective who’s simultaneously intimidating and a smidge mysterious — she can just stare at a suspect and make them confess, no question. She’s clever, resourceful, and has this dry, almost lethal sense of humor that makes her partners both terrified and relieved to work with her. There’s a cool vulnerability under the badass exterior, like a soft spot she hides with sarcasm and sunglasses. Also she might collect vintage postcards or take impromptu salsa lessons — I don’t know, but it’s somehow oddly specific.

Erin Lindsay

Lindsay is scrappy, fiercely loyal, and carries this haunted-but-resilient vibe that makes her impossible to forget; she’s the kind of detective who’ll go to the edge and come back with a story and a scar. She’s empathetic and brave, and somehow manages to be tender in a job that chews people up, which is probably why everyone trusts her. She’s complicated, makes messy choices, and yet there’s a core of integrity that never quits, even when she should. Also she alternates between hot-headed decision-making and wise patience like a switch, it’s confusing but very herself.