Honestly, if you looked at Kim Burgess back in Season 1, you probably wouldn't have guessed she’d become the emotional anchor of Chicago P.D. She was the "feisty" former flight attendant. Basically, the green patrol officer who wore her heart on her sleeve while Trudy Platt made her life a living hell. But fast forward to 2026, and Marina Squerciati’s character has been through more trauma than arguably anyone else in the Intelligence Unit—and that’s saying something when your boss is Hank Voight.
Kim isn’t just a detective; she’s the one character who consistently reminds the audience that being a "good cop" in Chicago is messy, exhausting, and deeply personal. She didn't start with the cynical edge that Hailey Upton or Alvin Olinsky had. She had to earn it through blood, literally.
The Evolution from Beat Cop to Intelligence Detective
Most fans forget that Kim actually turned down a spot in Intelligence early on. That’s vintage Burgess. She stayed on patrol because she felt a loyalty to her partner at the time, Sean Roman. It’s that specific brand of "people-first" logic that makes her stand out. While everyone else in the 21st District is playing 4D chess with city politics or burying bodies in the silos, Kim is usually the one worried about the human cost of the case.
Her promotion to Intelligence wasn't a gift; it was a grind.
She spent years in the "white shirts" proving she could handle the heavy lifting. When she finally made the jump in Season 4, she didn't just walk into a warm welcome. She had to win over Olinsky, who was notoriously skeptical of anyone he deemed a "badge bunny" or too soft for the unit's dark undercover work. She broke a suspect's arm to save his life—that’s one way to get a veteran’s respect, I guess.
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Key Milestones in the Burgess Timeline:
- The Flight Attendant Years: Before the badge, she was in the skies. This backstory pops up occasionally, reminding us she chose this dangerous life; she wasn't born into a "police family" like the Ruzeks.
- The First Shooting: Getting shot through a door in Season 2 was the first time the show signaled that Kim wasn't "safe" just because she was the show's moral compass.
- Adopting Makayla: This was the massive pivot. Deciding to raise a child whose family was murdered in a case she worked? It changed her from a cop who happens to have a life to a mother who happens to be a cop.
What Everyone Gets Wrong About "Burzek"
You’ve probably seen the "Burzek" hashtags all over your feed for the last decade. It’s easily the most "will-they-won't-they" relationship in the entire One Chicago universe. But here’s the thing: it hasn't just been about romance. For a long time, it was a study in shared trauma.
People like to blame Kim for being "hot and cold" with Adam Ruzek. To be fair, she called off their first engagement because she didn't feel like he was "all in." Then there was the miscarriage after she was brutally attacked in the line of duty. You can't just "bounce back" from that to play house.
Honestly, the most mature thing the writers ever did was let them be "associates" and co-parents for years before finally pulling the trigger on marriage. By the time they finally tied the knot in the Season 12 finale (an episode titled "Vows" that had everyone stressed out), it felt earned. They weren't just two cute leads hooking up in the locker room anymore. They were a family unit that survived a corrupt Deputy Chief (shoutout to the Charlie Reid arc) trying to dismantle their lives.
The Physical and Mental Toll: Marina Squerciati’s Performance
Marina Squerciati doesn't get enough credit for how she plays the "aftermath."
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Remember the Roy Walton arc? Kim was kidnapped, shot, and left for dead. Most procedurals would have the character back in the field two episodes later with a bandage and a quip. But Chicago P.D. leaned into her PTSD. We saw the panic attacks. We saw her struggling to hold a gun without her hands shaking.
"Burgess will survive. She will just be messier." – Marina Squerciati on the reality of being a working mom in a high-stakes police unit.
It’s that "messiness" that makes her relatable. In Season 12, when her badge was temporarily stripped just a week before her wedding, you could see the years of exhaustion on her face. She isn't the "super-cop" who never fails; she's the one who keeps showing up even when she's terrified.
What’s Next for Detective Burgess in Season 13?
As we move into the 2026 season, the landscape of the 21st District has changed. With Upton gone and new faces like Kiana Cook joining the fray, Kim is now the "senior" presence in the unit alongside Atwater and Ruzek.
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What you should watch for:
- The Detective Rank: Now that she’s officially a Detective, her responsibilities are shifting. Expect her to butt heads more with Voight's "off the books" methods as she tries to protect her career for Makayla’s sake.
- Married Life: Showrunner Gwen Sigan has teased a "honeymoon phase," but this is Chicago P.D. The happiness usually lasts about fifteen minutes before a sniper or a drug cartel shows up.
- The Neighborhood Focus: Season 13 is leaning into more localized cases. We've already seen Kim’s memory tested in a shootout at her local diner—expect more stories where the danger follows her home.
How to Keep Up With Kim's Journey
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Burgess lore or keep track of her latest cases, here are a few things you can do right now:
- Watch "Vows" (Season 12, Episode 13): If you haven't seen the wedding yet, go back and watch the culmination of a 12-year character arc. It's the payoff fans deserved.
- Follow the Official Socials: Marina Squerciati is surprisingly hilarious on Instagram and often shares behind-the-scenes "Burzek" content that is way lighter than the show itself.
- Revisit "In Your Care" (Season 8, Episode 5): This is the episode where she decides to take in Makayla. It’s the definitive turning point for who Kim Burgess is today.
Kim Burgess isn't going anywhere. While other cast members have cycled out, Squerciati’s commitment to the role has kept Kim grounded in a world that often feels like it's spinning out of control. She’s the heart of the show—bruised, scarred, but still beating.