While actors often come and go from TV shows, one of the toughest losses CBS’ S.W.A.T. ever experienced was the departure of Christina “Chris” Alonso, played by Lina Esco. Chris had been around since the first season, and she was one of the major players in the show, so the actor’s exit was a devastating blow for the viewers, to say the least. Throughout S.W.A.T.’s original run, which saw the series come head-to-head with cancellation multiple times before its end, Chris was one of the most compelling original characters. Her story with the squad, personally and professionally, anchored the show.
Before joining the S.W.A.T. team in the pilot episode, Chris was a canine officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Then, she became the first female officer to be assigned to S.W.A.T. and quickly proved her worth to the team. Chris, who was openly bisexual, had constantly dealt with adversity throughout her childhood and into adulthood, and she was an inspiration to many viewers. Unfortunately, Chris’s swan song came in S.W.A.T. season 5, episode 22, when she decided to leave the LAPD to help house illegal immigrant girls seeking asylum. Thankfully, Chris’ journey on the series left a lasting impact.
Lina Esco Wanted To Leave S.W.A.T. For Other Projects
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When Lina Esco announced that she was leaving S.W.A.T. after five seasons in May 2022, viewers were shocked. Chris had finally entered a relationship with James “Jim” Street following years of tension between the two characters, so the actor’s exit from the show seemed sudden. But Lina Esco decided to leave SWAT to pursue other projects — she wanted a change of scenery. According to TVLine, Esco said in a statement:
“Bringing to life a strong, smart, bisexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere. Five years later, I am leaving SWAT to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too. That said, this is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make. I’m forever grateful to my SWAT family – my fellow cast, writers, and producers – for an incredible journey. To the amazing SWAT fans, you are the heart of the show. I can’t thank you enough for your support and for walking beside me through all of Chris’ journey!”
“Bringing to life a strong, smart, bisexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere. Five years later, I am leaving SWAT to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too. That said, this is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make. I’m forever grateful to my SWAT family – my fellow cast, writers, and producers – for an incredible journey. To the amazing SWAT fans, you are the heart of the show. I can’t thank you enough for your support and for walking beside me through all of Chris’ journey!”
Since her final S.W.A.T. episode, which premiered on May 22, 2022, Esco hasn’t appeared in any other television shows or films. However, the door is still open for her to return for S.W.A.T. season 7. The upcoming season will serve as the show’s last outing after CBS renewed it after canceling it in May 2023.
How Lina Esco Leaving Impacted S.W.A.T.
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The good news is that, because of Chris’s relationship with Street, Esco’s presence in S.W.A.T. was still present even though she no longer appeared onscreen. Instead of forcing an abrupt end to the show’s slow-burn romance because of one actor’s exit, the writers decided to continue Chris and Street’s relationship in season 6. Of course, the audience continued to get updates on the pairing from Street, with everything in their relationship happening offscreen, but that option was better than the writers creating an unbelievable breakup. When Street eventually left S.W.A.T. during season 7, the pair were still very much together.
With S.W.A.T. having ended on CBS, the franchise has moved on to S.W.A.T. Exiles on Starz, but Street and Chris have remained offscreen. Despite there being some buzz surrounding returning cast members for the spinoff series, Chris hasn’t been part of the possible returnees on S.W.A.T. Exiles, but if she were to return to the franchise, it would most likely be alongside Street. The pair’s present has been a topic of speculation for fans of the franchise, which means seeing them on Exiles would be exciting for longtime viewers.
What Lina Esco Has Done Since Leaving SWAT
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Esco’s roles haven’t been as frequent as anticipated after her departure from S.W.A.T., though she did appear in Netflix’s 2026 action thriller film The Rip as Captain Jackie Velez. Her character’s murder is the catalyst for the rest of the film, which sees Ben Affleck and Matt Damon working to solve what happened. Esco keeps a relatively low profile on social media, but after working on the Netflix film, surely has irons in the fire. It’s possible that as S.W.A.T. Exiles moves into its second season, Esco could be on the shortlist of actors to bring back into the franchise after her exit from the CBS version of S.W.A.T..
S.W.A.T.
Starring Shemar Moore, S.W.A.T. is an Action and Drama television series that was developed by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Shawn Ryan and began in 2017. The series follows a team of SWAT members in the Los Angeles Police Department as they attempt to keep the city safe.
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