Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) was a valuable

asset to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for 15

seasons. Therefore, when he departed the show in

Season 15, he gave himself an honorable goodbye

for a very special reason: He was retiring to travel.

Why Cragen left Law & Order: SVU
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“I’m leaving,” he told the squad in Season 15, Episode 11’s “Amaro’s One-Eighty”.

After the team protested, he reassured them of his choice. “This is my call.”

“Where are you gonna go, captain?” Tutuola (Ice T) asked.

“Around the world, actually. Eileen has two tickets for a six month cruise, and I have enough accrued leave to take me through my mandatory retirement date. If I stay, I might make less than if I leave,” Cragen responded.

Cragen continued. “I’m proud of my time here. And I’m honored and grateful to work with the finest unit of detectives I’ve ever known.”

“Nobody could ever take your place,” Tutuola said.

“Well for the meantime, detective Benson will. She’s ready. Now it’s not easy going from player to coach, so don’t bust her chops,” Cragen responded with a smirk.

Then, Cragen directed his attention to Benson (Mariska Hargitay) But if they do, bust ’em right back.”