why did they kill captain cragen on svu

Captain Donald Cragen was killed off in the show "Law & Order: SVU" with his death revealed off-screen before Season 27. The series opened the season with a funeral for Cragen, honoring him as a beloved former captain and mentor to many characters. The cause of Cragen's death was not explicitly revealed on the show; it is implied that he died of natural causes during retirement. His death served as an emotional moment in the series, with many former colleagues gathering to pay tribute to him and reflecting on his legacy as a steadfast, father figure-like leader of the Special Victims Unit.