(Photo: Bill Inoshita/CBS)

SWAT is making some changes to its cast before the police action drama returns for its eighth season in October. Niko Pepaj (above) has been upgraded to series regular status, which means his character, Officer Miguel Alfaro, will be a permanent fixture on the 20 squad.

Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Rochelle Aytes, and Anna Enger Ritch star in the CBS series, which follows the LAPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics unit.

Views will also see a new face on the show this season. Per Deadline, Annie Ilonzeh will recur on the CBS series as Devin Gamble. The following was revealed about her role in SWAT:

Gamble was born into an L.A. family deeply entrenched in crime, leaving her with a fierce determination to break free of her blood legacy. She thought she’d achieved that, becoming a standout as an LAPD rookie… until her father’s arrest for a heinous crime cast a shadow Gamble could only escape by leaving LA for the Oakland PD.

Now, a decade later, Hondo brought Gamble back home to become an integral new member of 20-Squad, knowing her inner strength, intuition, and street smarts will make her an invaluable part of the team.

There’s no word on when/if former cast members Kenny Johnson and Alex Russell will return in season eight. Rochelle Aytes, aka Hondo’s wife Nichelle Carmichael, will be in fewer episodes because the actress is starring opposite Morris Chesnut in CBS’ new Watson series.

SWAT returns to CBS on October 18th.

What do you think? Are you excited about the return of this CBS series this fall?