why did dann florek leave svu

Dann Florek left "Law & Order: SVU" because his character, Captain Donald Cragen, reached the mandatory retirement age for New York City cops and chose to retire to travel with his girlfriend. This exit happened in Season 15 as part of a storyline where Cragen decided to retire after a long service with the NYPD. The departure was also influenced by network and creative decisions to refresh the show and introduce new dynamics. Despite leaving as a regular cast member, Florek made guest appearances afterward, allowing fans to remain connected to the character. The departure was framed as a respectful and honorable retirement rather than a sudden exit, aligning with real-life retirement practices for police officers.