Where’s Burgess?! The *Real* Reason Ruzek’s Fiancée Is Missing From Chicago P.D.
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She’s been a mainstay of the 21st District’s Intelligence Unit since Season 1, but with her missing from Season 12’s premiere episode, fans can’t help but wonder: What happened to Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D.?! Don’t worry because Marina Squerciati‘s character isn’t gone for good — at least, not yet.
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What happened to Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D.?
Chicago P.D. returned with its Season 12 premiere episode, “Ten Ninety-Nine,” on September 25, 2024, however, there was one squad member missing: Officer Kim Burgess, who has been played by Squerciati on Chicago P.D. since the One Chicago show’s premiere in 2014. In the premiere episode, Burgess’ fiance, Officer Adam Ruzek (Patrick Fleuger) — who has been in an on-again, off-again relationship with her since Season 1 — revealed that Burgess was at a conference for NAWLEE (National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives), which is why she wasn’t at the Intelligence Unit.
More: The most shocking Chicago P.D. exits of all time
“She said the conference is good. Learning a lot. She’s disturbed by the case, so she’s thinking about coming back early,” Ruzek told Officer Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) and new IU member Emily Martel (Victoria Cartagena) who was subbing as Ruzek’s partner while Burgess was away. “Oh, she shouldn’t. CPD loves stuff like NAWLEE. It’ll give her a leg up,” Martel told Ruzek.
While Ruzek didn’t specify when Burgess would be back to the office (which makes us think that she could be gone for multiple episodes), Squerciati confirmed in an Instagram post on the set of Chicago P.D. August 20, 2024, that she was returning as Burgess for Season 12 and had not left the One Chicago franchise.
“And just like that…we back! Missed you loads. #ChicagoPD #HIATUS #IGhiatus #sorryaboutthat #myboys #mycrew #family #wolfpack #paddyflueger #laroycehawkins #voight #burzek #jasonbeghe,” she captioned a series of photos of her with Fleuger, Jason Beghe (Sergeant Hank Voight), and Benjamin Levy Aguilar (Officer Dante Torres).
More: Where former Chicago P.D. stars are now
Squerciati also shared an Instagram photo the day of Chicago P.D. Season 12’s premiere further confirming she was still on the series. “We don’t normally smile on CPD, but when we do it’s PREMIER DAY!! #chicagopd #Torgess #tvshows #nbc #wolfpack @wolfentertainment @nbconechicago,” she captioned a photo with Aguilar and retired police officer Brian Luce, who serves as a technical advisor on the show.
While the One Chicago franchise has been facing a mass exodus for the past few years — with the exits of stars like Chicago Fire‘s Kara Killmer and Eamonn Walker, Chicago P.D.‘s Tracy Spiridakos, and Chicago Med‘s Dominic Rains — it’s unlikely that Squerciati would also leave One Chicago given the many storylines in store for Burgess in Season 12 — namely, her wedding with Ruzek.
More: See Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess’ relationship timeline on Chicago P.D.
In an interview with Us Weekly in September 2024, Fleuger hinted that Burgess and Ruzek will get married in Season 12, though they may not have a traditional wedding.
“It’s not really our show [style] to have [a wedding],” he said. “I don’t know how you squeeze that into our show. It feels like it’s probably gonna be more suggested than it is something you’re gonna see on screen.”
Showrunner Gwen Sigan also teased Burgess and Ruzek’s unconventional wedding. “I feel like Ruz is kinda, like, ‘Should we just go to the courthouse? Let’s just keep it simple. I don’t need the whole to do. I just wanna be with you.’ That’s how I think Ruzek would do it,” she told Us Weekly.
Sigan also confirmed to TV Insider in September 2024 that one of Chicago P.D.‘s three officers — Burgess, Atwater or Ruzek — will get promoted to detective in Season 12, which gives Squerciati another storyline to stay on Chicago P.D. “People are going to be promoted,” she said. “Someone’s getting promoted, and it’s somebody I think who’s wanted it for a while and that it made a lot of sense for us. In the [writers’] room, we’ve talked about that storyline for so long, but how do you make it a story? How do you make it interesting? How do you make it something that really reveals something about who this person is and is not just a piece of paper?”
Chicago P.D. is available to stream on Peacock.
Watch ‘Chicago P.D.’ on Peacock
For more on Chicago P.D., check out who the cast is dating and married to in real life.
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