The Shocking Reason Behind Antonio's Unexpected Departure in Chicago PD!

Summary

Detective Antonio Dawson's departure from Chicago P.D. was triggered by a chain of events related to his pill addiction and the murder of a criminal who kidnapped his daughter.

Dawson's reliance on painkillers worsened following his colleague Adam shouldering the blame for his wrongdoing, which ultimately led to Dawson's arrest and a major downfall.

Prompted by his desperate situation, Dawson made the decision to move to Puerto Rico, seeking support from his family, in an attempt to turn his life around. Eventually, he discovered a glimmer of hope by joining the crisis response team in the Bahamas, where he finally found a positive resolution.

Since Jon Seda's character, Detective Antonio Dawson, unexpectedly left Chicago P.D. in season 7, many have been curious about his whereabouts. Dawson was initially introduced in the second episode of the first season, where he dealt with the kidnapping of his son Diego by a gang. As part of the CPD Intelligence Unit, he quickly became a prominent figure in the series, even temporarily leading the team during Hank Voight's absence.

Later in the show, Dawson advanced his career and became the lead investigator for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. However, the monotony of his new job took a toll on him, prompting his decision to return to the CPD Intelligence Unit. Unfortunately, this choice led to a series of unfortunate events that ultimately resulted in his departure from Chicago P.D.

Antonio’s Pill Addiction Caused Problems For Intelligence

Dawson suffered a serious shoulder injury in episode 3 of Chicago P.D. season 6 while attempting to break down a door. Although his shoulder eventually healed, it was later revealed that he had been relying on pain medication to manage the lingering pain. Initially, there were no consequences for Dawson's dependence on these pills. However, in episode 9, his addiction reached a peak when he violently killed a criminal who had kidnapped his daughter. With Voight and Adam being the only ones aware of his actions at the crime scene, they decided to keep it a secret.

In the aftermath of the incident, Voight urged Dawson to seek rehabilitation, while Adam took the blame for the crime. Feeling responsible for Adam's predicament, Dawson attempted to make amends. However, recognizing that they had already crossed legal boundaries, Voight advised him to maintain silence, as it was too late for the truth to surface. Dawson's dependency on painkillers only worsened after Adam's arrest for covering up the crime. In the opening episode of Chicago P.D. season 7, Dawson hit rock bottom and suddenly vanished from the CPD Intelligence Unit, leaving his whereabouts unknown.

Antonio Resigned Off-Screen And Moved To Puerto Rico

Voight, being the sole witness to the events involving him and Adam, assumed the duty of arranging for Adam's admission into a rehabilitation center. While Antonio Dawson did not make any further appearances on Chicago P.D., it was disclosed that he voluntarily resigned from the CPD Intelligence Unit and relocated to Puerto Rico to seek support from his relatives. In an episode of Chicago P.D. season 8, Gabriela Dawson, Antonio's sister, briefly appeared and confirmed his new position in the crisis response team in the Bahamas, assuring that his storyline had a positive resolution.