Chicago actor, Toya Turner joins Chicago P.D. as Officer Kiana Cook, the newest member of the Intelligence Unit.
To her benefit, Turner has appeared on both Chicago Fire and Chicago Med in different roles — making her familiar with the One Chicago franchise.
Chicago P.D.’s Season 12 intense second episode titled Blood Bleeds Blue, introduced Turner in the role of Officer Cook, an adrenaline-driven officer who doesn’t shy away from intense situations and has a penchant for standing her ground under pressure, as she steps into a high-stakes situation alongside Officer Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger).
Together, they respond to a major crisis involving the tragic death of Detective Emily Martel (Victoria Cartagena), sparking an intense manhunt across the city. Cook’s character immediately shows her tactical skills and fearlessness, rooted in her prior experience in a specialized unit, making her a reliable new asset to Intelligence.
Turner returns in Season 12, Episode 5 Water and Honey, and is set to become a member of the Intelligence Unit as she takes over the spot left vacant after Martel was tragically killed.
“Toya’s such a bad mama jama,” Patrick John Flueger (Ruzek) told NBC Insider. “She came in, she settled in right away. I feel very lucky. I’m really excited about Toya. I’m really excited for the audience to get to know her.”
Turner’s roots bring authenticity to her role. Her father is a Chicago police officer, adding an extra layer of authenticity and pride to her role as Officer Kiana Cook on Chicago P.D.. This connection has been met with excitement by the real-life Chicago police department, where Turner’s performance is seen as a respectful nod to those serving on the force.
“I’ve been getting calls from other cops saying, you know, look out for her because her dad is a great guy,” LaRoyce Hawkins (Kevin Atwater) tells NBC Insider. “In the way that she pulled up, just so confident and ready and unafraid, that’s the type of team member I think we gravitate towards. That’s the kind of energy that we appreciate on the team. I’m looking forward to seeing how she grows and continues to gel. But so far extremely good, you really can’t complain. I think we lucked out with that one.”
Cook is expected to return in future episodes, with upcoming scenes pairing her with Officer Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar), promising a dynamic storyline in the season ahead.
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