The Worst Thing That Ever Happened To Jay On Chicago P.D.
Working in emergency services is a challenging career. You constantly put your life on the line for the well-being of others, and society may not always thank you properly for the role you play. It's a rough job, but someone has to do it, as highlighted in NBC's exceptional "One Chicago" series.
Consisting of four separate programs that regularly cross over and share characters, "One Chicago" exceptionally demonstrates the pressure and trauma placed on those who want to make society a better place. Nowhere is that more evident than on "Chicago P.D.," which has gone strong on the channel since 2014. All of the characters sacrifice and go through tribulations to make their city better, but arguably, no one has suffered worse than Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer).
Throughout the first nine seasons, Jay has been kidnapped, shot, and witnessed the people he loves most in the world meet horrible fates. Life hasn't been kind to the detective. However, there was one incident that probably gave him more trauma than everything else put together.
Jay Halstead was never the same after he accidentally shot a young girl
It all went down in Season 5, Episode 1, "Reform." Jay finds himself in the midst of a shootout, and during the skirmish, a stray bullet flies off and hits a young girl. Suffice to say, Jay's worried sick for her well-being once she goes to the hospital, and he prays for a miracle to happen. After initially being told there was a chance she could survive, Jay returns to the medical ward to learn she passed away from her injuries.
An investigation takes place and determines the bullet that killed the girl came from Jay's gun. The police department later puts out a statement about how Jay's been cleared of all charges, but her death still weighs heavy on his conscience. He even requires time and convincing to meet with the girls' mom so that he can apologize and return the girl's necklace. It's one of the most emotional moments in any "Chicago P.D." episode.
Jay has always had an issue with survivor's guilt and feeling traumatized that others have died due to what he did or didn't do. It all dates back to his time in the military, and things haven't gotten easier since his time in the force. We'd like to think things would get more manageable for him at this point, but with the show on its ninth season, we'd say things will get harder before they get easier for Jay.