Lina Esco, better known as Officer Christine “Chris” Alonso in S.W.A.T., has confirmed that she will no longer be reprising her role as the squad’s sniper. After season 5, the actress stepped down from the show.
This means that fans will no longer be able to see their favorite cop in the next season of the show, which is set to premiere on CBS on October 7, 2022, at 8/7c.
Lina Esco left SWAT for what reason?
Lina Esco announced in May 2022 that she would not be reprising her role as Officer Alonso on the CBS police procedural drama S.W.A.T. Esco made the announcement via Instagram, stating that it was one of the most difficult decisions she had ever made.
She went on to say that portraying Alonso was “both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere.” Lina also stated that she will consider new creative endeavors and is excited to step outside of her comfort zone and begin a new chapter.
Lina Esco went on to thank her cast mates and crew members who helped bring Officer Alonso to life. She expressed gratitude to her S.W.A.T. family, which included cast members, writers, and producers, for the journey that the show provided her. Lina also expressed gratitude to her fans for their support throughout her journey.
Officer Chris was one of the show’s most popular characters. She was the squad’s fierce sniper and a valuable asset to the CBS television show.
How did Lina’s leaving fit into the S.W.A.T. story?
Lina’s talent as she brought Alonso’s character to life was also recognized by showrunners Shawn Ryan and Andy Dettmann in statements. According to their statement, the team has had the pleasure of watching Lina Esco bring Officer Chris to life.
It continued:
“When Lina came to us a year ago to express her desire to eventually pursue other endeavors, we all worked hard to give Chris a proper, season-long sendoff, knowing what an important, iconic character she’s been to our audience.”
Ryan and Dettmann are grateful to Esco for her contributions to the show and her portrayal of Chris over the course of five seasons.
Esco’s departure from the show coincided with Alonso’s announcement to the squad that she would retire from S.W.A.T. and devote her time to looking after Mama Pina’s safe house.
