Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Chicago PD season 12, episode 21.Deputy Chief Reid (Shawn Hatosy) has managed something that nobody else ever has in Chicago PD Many have attempted to shut down Sergeant Voight (Jason Beghe) and his Chicago Police Intelligence Unit, and they have arrested and suspended members of the team to do it in the past. Yet, within a few episodes, Reid has shown that he can do the job he set out to do.
While we’re not a fan of Intelligence being shut down, there is no doubt that it makes for a far more interesting story. Now, eyes are on how Voight will be able to get his unit back, as well as how he’ll get Burgess’ (Marina Squerciati) job back and Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) out of his sticky situation. There is a lot of ground to cover in the Chicago PD season 12 finale, and it seems unlikely that everything will be resolved before Chicago PD season 13 begins.
Reid Successfully Disbanded The Intelligence Unit In Chicago PD Season 12
Voight And His Team Are No Longer Working Together
Throughout Chicago PD season 12, Reid has proven that he is a threat to everyone. From the minute he sat down and shared that he knew Torres had been involved with his CI and that Burgess covered for him, we knew that this was not a man to be trusted. He would work nicely with Voight for as long as Voight could offer him something good.
Of course, Voight had to get Reid off his back, and that led to him looking for a way to take down the dirty cop. The problem for Voight is that the Deputy Chief has his hands in multiple pockets, making sure that everyone owes him a favor or they need him for protection. It was only a matter of time before Reid realized that the formidable leader of Intelligence was up to something and finding a way to take him down.
Rather than be the one taken down, Reid decided to act first in Chicago PD season 12, episode 21. Considering his position and the information that he had, it wasn’t hard to arrest Torres and suspend Burgess without pay. With how Voight covered for them, it wouldn’t have taken much for Deputy Chief Reid to convince the rest of the top brass that Intelligence wasn’t to be trusted.
Voight's Intelligence Unit Has Never Been Disbanded Before
Many Have Tried And Failed To Take Down Voight
This is certainly not the first time that someone has come in with the attempt to take down Voight, but it is the first time someone has completely disbanded the unit in the One Chicago series. Most of the time, there is a criminal who wants to get rid of Intelligence, knowing that their freedom is under attack. However, now and again, other members of the police force have targeted Intelligence.
Since Voight stood by Atwater, there were issues with the other cops against Intelligence, but nobody came as far as disbanding the unit.
During Chicago PD season 7, Atwater decided to go against the Blue Line, noting racial discrimination at a time when systemic racism was at a problematic height. It led to Atwater being targeted in Chicago PD season 8, with him almost being left for dead because his radioing for help was ignored. Since Voight stood by Atwater, there were issues with the other cops against Intelligence, but nobody came as far as disbanding the unit.
Another attempt to get revenge on Voight was in Chicago PD season 5, when evidence was planted against Olinsky (Elias Koteas). Olinsky ended up killed while in prison, and Voight went on a mission to clear his name. While Voight was temporarily suspended, the rest of the Intelligence Unit was able to keep running.
How The Intelligence Unit Can Regain Their Positioning
Intelligence Will Need To Take Down Reid
Had Voight said something to the rest of Intelligence earlier in Chicago PD season 12, they may have been able to avoid this. However, it’s clear that Reid has had information in his pocket for months, and the only way for Intelligence to get the team back together is by taking down Reid. That’s something they will do in the Chicago PD season 12 finale, with the synopsis telling us that they will act in an unofficial capacity.
They will need ASA Chapman’s (Sarah Bues) help to finally take Reid down. She isn’t happy with the way Voight is willing to act off the books, as it is immoral and illegal, but this is all that Voight can do at this point. There is no way that doing things the “right way” will help at this point.
Then they can work on getting Torres out of jail, which will be a little harder considering he did do what he has been arrested for doing.
The best way to take Reid down is to gather all the others Reid has something on. This will help to form a defense against the deputy chief, who is sure to lash out if he continues to feel attacked. Of course, this is difficult to do, but it will be worth it to get Intelligence back together and Burgess back with the team. Then they can work on getting Torres out of jail, which will be a little harder considering he did do what he has been arrested for doing.
Intelligence's Disbandment & Eventual Reinstatement Will Only Make Chicago PD More Interesting
The Trust With The Chicago PD Has Now Been Tested
It’s hard to tell if there is enough time to fix everything in the Chicago PD season 12 finale. Some of the storylines may need to wait for the 13th season of the Dick Wolf universe series, especially when it comes to getting Torres out of jail. However, even if everything is wrapped up neatly be the end of the episode, moving forward, arcs are going to be a lot more interesting.
Despite Reid’s dirty actions, he has arrested Torres for something genuine, and Burgess did help to cover up the crime.
The trust with the rest of PD has been severed. Despite Reid’s dirty actions, he has arrested Torres for something genuine, and Burgess did help to cover up the crime. People are going to see that information and will want to act on it, even if Reid is disgraced, and this means they will keep looking at anything else that Intelligence will do.
From Chicago PD season 13 onward, Intelligence will need to be on their best behavior. They will need to do everything by the book for some time, and that will make finding criminals and getting answers a little bit harder to do. They will need to think more creatively, which leads to some compelling storylines when Chicago PD returns.
