Lt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her squad will have to accept that one of their members is gone for good in the upcoming season of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

The last installment of the long-running NBC series ended with a shocker. Mike Dodds (Andy Karl) was killed while on duty. He was shot by a rogue corrections officer determined to escape capture. It was a heart-breaking moment for everyone, especially when Mike's father, Deputy Chief William Dodds (Peter Gallagher), had to turn off his son's life support system when it became apparent there was no hope for him.

Outgoing showrunner Warren Leight previously told The Hollywood Reporter that Mike's death was meant to remind the viewers how dangerous a police officer's work really was.

"We tend to think of our guys almost being like superheroes in a way. There's an invulnerability to them, and that's not the reality of that job. We just also wanted to give respect to the police officers who do risk their lives every day and whose families don't know if they're ever coming home. What is that loss like? What is that anxiety like for families of police officers?" he said.

Mike may be gone, but life still moves on for those he left behind. Benson is expected to become her team's rock in these trying times. Mike was a valuable member of the SVU. His sacrifice would always be remembered. According to Game Guide, the squad will never be the same without him.

Meanwhile, Benson and Dodds Sr. will also have to set aside their personal feelings and work together in the future. There is always the chance that he might blame her for what happened to his kid.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" season 18 will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.