<P> In the season 12 finale , Stabler is forced to shoot and kill a young woman who opens fire in the Special Victims squad room . Before dying in Stabler 's arms , she had killed two suspects involved in the rape and murder of her mother and injured a third , as well as killing recurring character Sister Peg ( Charlayne Woodard ) . After the shootout , Stabler is placed on administrative leave by IAB . Although he is eventually cleared , it is nonetheless his sixth career `` good shooting '' and according to Cragen , IAB `` wants to go over his entire jacket ... if Elliot wants to keep his job , he 's gon na have to submit to a psych eval , anger management , a lot of hoops . '' Confirming Benson 's assurance that he will instead tell them to `` go to hell '' , Stabler subsequently retires from the police force off screen during the thirteenth - season premiere . Benson and Cragen agree that he 's earned it `` and then some '' . Nevertheless , Benson is quietly devastated by his resignation as she breaks down sobbing in the interrogation room . </P>
<P> In the season 12 finale , Stabler is forced to shoot and kill a young woman who opens fire in the Special Victims squad room . Before dying in Stabler 's arms , she had killed two suspects involved in the rape and murder of her mother and injured a third , as well as killing recurring character Sister Peg ( Charlayne Woodard ) . After the shootout , Stabler is placed on administrative leave by IAB . Although he is eventually cleared , it is nonetheless his sixth career `` good shooting '' and according to Cragen , IAB `` wants to go over his entire jacket ... if Elliot wants to keep his job , he 's gon na have to submit to a psych eval , anger management , a lot of hoops . '' Confirming Benson 's assurance that he will instead tell them to `` go to hell '' , Stabler subsequently retires from the police force off screen during the thirteenth - season premiere . Benson and Cragen agree that he 's earned it `` and then some '' . Nevertheless , Benson is quietly devastated by his resignation as she breaks down sobbing in the interrogation room . </P>
law and order svu why does elliot leave
law and order svu why does elliot leave
retires from the police force
retires from the police force