If there was any doubt in the minds of fans over whether Officer Seth Ridley’s time on The Rookie had come to an end, those doubts have been put to rest.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Rookie season 7 episode 16.
In episode 16, “The Return,” Ridley made a shocking return to the LAPD training program just a few episodes after it seemed like he was gone for good after his lies caught up to him. So, how did he manage to secure a place back in the training program?
As we learn at the top of the episode, Ridley claimed that his oncologist duped him into believing he was sick when he wasn’t. He sued the city for wrongful termination and medical discrimination, and the LAPD decided not to fight the case for a number of reasons, namely the bad publicity it could bring the department. With no other choice, Ridley was welcomed back, and Nolan was tapped to be his new training officer – much to the displeasure of Nolan and literally everyone else in the department.
Just as it looked like Ridley would be sticking around for the season as a thorn in Nolan’s side, he ended up actually saving the day during a high-stakes call. After saving Nolan’s life by taking out an offender who was about to gun him down, Ridley was shot in the leg and immediately went down. Nolan managed to stabilize Ridley and get him to the hospital, but the damage to his leg was too severe, and the surgeons had no choice but to amputate it.
At the end of the episode, Ridley commented that his time in the LAPD was over, to which Nolan assured him there is a path back, it’s just one that will take a lot of work.
“It’s gonna take you time to learn to use your prosthetic, but your career is only over if you want it to be,” Nolan assured Ridley. “I’m sure the last thing you want right now is advice, but this tragedy has brought you to a crossroads. You can choose a different path. It’s just going to require complete honesty.”
Patrick Keleher confirms his exit from The Rookie
While The Rookie did leave the door open for Ridley’s journey on the show to continue following his injury, it seems we won’t be seeing that journey unfold on screen.
Patrick Keleher, who plays Officer Ridley, revealed to ScreenRant that he’s officially finished for the season and that we won’t be seeing more of Seth in season 7. “Yeah. I am done in season 7,” Keleher revealed, confirming his exit from the show following his return in episode 16. While he didn’t address his return in the show’s already announced eighth season, this might be the last time we see Ridley on the show for some time, though it’s entirely possible he could pop up for a guest appearance in the show’s next season.
As Nolan told Ridley, this doesn’t have to be the end of his career. There are no restrictions preventing an amputee from becoming a member of the LAPD.
“The path to becoming a police officer with a prosthetic leg is challenging but achievable. While it's true that law enforcement has specific physical requirements, advancements in prosthetics and a growing recognition of diverse abilities have opened doors for individuals with amputations. If this is your dream, it’s possible to achieve,” board-certified prosthetist-orthotist Eddie Zepeda noted in a 2024 editorial exploring the topic.
Ridley does have a long recovery ahead, but we hope the show catches us up on his recovery sometime in season 8. It’d be nice to see Ridley using this moment as a catalyst for change in his life, learning from his mistakes and becoming a better person in the process.
For now, though, it seems we've seen the last of Ridley for the remainder of The Rookie season 7, which will come to an offical end on Tuesday, May 13 at 9/8c with the season finale.