David Aron Damane

In the series premiere, after a slew of brutal slayings, District 21, led by Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) go after a Columbian drug cartel cleaning house in Chicago. They discover D'Anthony (guest star Isaac White) who proves to be an asset in the investigation. At District, complicated histories and unit rivalries surface which could end up costing them one of their own. Meanwhile, Rookie Kyle Ruzek (Patrick Flueger) is pulled from the police academy by Olinski (Elias Koteas) to join the team.

Jeff York (Dean Strange) is found strangled to death in a neighborhood frequented by prostitutes. It looks like a trick gone wrong, especially with his wallet missing. He turns out to be an Assistant District Attorney from the Bronx, and someone Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) has dated. At first, Benson and Stabler (Chris Meloni) think he was killed because of a case he was prosecuting; due to the fact the defendant threatened him in open court. But the defendant, Alvarez (Carlos Pizarro), didn't do it. A condom with lipstick stains was found at the scene, but on closer examination, it turns out to have been staged.

Voight (Jason Beghe) and team head to a house that's been associated with a number of top gangs. Events at the search result in Ruzek (Patrick Flueger), being encouraged to seek some counseling which may have lasting repercussions professionally and personally. Meanwhile Halstead's (Jesse Lee Soffer) temper rises when he comes in contact with some unwelcomed people from his past.

Voight (Jason Beghe) is assigned a new Internal Affairs handler, Stillwell (guest star Ian Bohen) who proves to be suspicious of Voight's actions. During an investigation involving a gambling ring Voight is forced to work with his former partner from the Gang Unit, Shi (guest star Mark Dacascos). At the same time Halsted (Jesse Lee Soffer) remains fixated on Lonnie Rodiger (guest star Matthew Sherbach) and enlists Jin's (Archie Kao) help to gather more information. Meanwhile, Ruzek's (Patrick Flueger) inflated ego leads Olinsky (Elias Koteas) to take him down a peg and offer a great opportunity to Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins).

Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) and Burgess (Marina Squerciati) are given a new patrol car, but are challenged with keeping it brand new. A run in with a psychotic woman leads the Intelligence Unit to discover a drug smuggling operation which has put several girl's lives in peril. Voight's (Jason Beghe) overprotective act with Lindsay (Sophia Bush) leads her right where he doesn't want as she also helps to keep Justin out of trouble. Meanwhile on stakeout, things get tense between Olinsky (Elias Koteas) and Ruzek (Patrick Flueger) as Olinski tries to teach him the finer points of surveillance.