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‘Law & Order: SVU’: How Show Explained Departures of Kat Tamin and Chief Garland

“Law & Order: SVU” needed to explain how two of the series’ characters, Kat Tamin and Chief Garland, were leaving the show this season.

On Thursday night, the long-running NBC crime drama offered their viewers some reasons within the show’s details for their departure.

Tamin, played by Jamie Gray Hyder, and Garland, played by Demore Barnes, did indeed leave the show.

In the “Law & Order: SVU” premiere, Tamin takes a bullet that gets under her bulletproof vest. Fin, played by Ice-T, applies pressure until a bus arrives. Tamin goes to the hospital but has her heart stop. The EMTs do revive her, though.

She goes into surgery and survives but begins to wonder if her job is all it’s cracked up to be. That becomes the final straw for her and it’s time to go.

According to TVLine, she tells Benson, “We’re not in the same place. I don’t have 20 years invested. I’ve got to get out before I get in too deep. I just can’t stay.” Tamin thanks Olivia for everything and Olivia says they’ll miss her.

Garland gets told to step in line behind Chief Tommy McGrath, but he doesn’t want to do so. Garland puts in his papers to leave and tells Olivia that he’s going to go before the department can bloody him up anymore. 

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Actress Hyder Explained In More Detail About Departure

Deadline did report that both actors would be leaving the show.

Hyder, who joined the cast two seasons ago, confirmed the report on Sept. 10. She added the decision was “above (her) pay grade.”

She went on Instagram and confirmed it herself.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I confirm Kat’s departure from the squad room. The decision was made above my paygrade, and wouldn’t have been my choice, but hey – That’s showbiz for ya,” she wrote. Hyder thanked those who saw themselves in Kat.

“To anyone who felt represented by Kat’s being or mission, please know that you will always have representation in me,” she continued. Kat was the first LGBTQ officer on the show and its second-ever LGBTQ main character.

“Thank you to the SVUniverse for welcoming me with open arms. It’s been an experience that I have grown from greatly, and will never forget.”

With that, Hyder is going off and getting ready for whatever her career leads her to do beyond the NBC show.

Fans of “Law & Order: SVU” were not happy with the news of their departure.

Both characters will be remembered by fans for their contributions to the series. But the show will go on with Hargitay, Ice-T, and the rest.

This is just Year 2 in Law & Order: SVU’s three-year renewal. The crime drama will return next season.