Why ‘The Rookie’ Killed Off Jackson West

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With season eight of The Rookie premiering on January 6, 2026, many fans are still wondering about a surprising death from season four. Do you remember when Officer Jackson West (played by Titus Makin Jr.), a hopeful and new recruit to the LAPD, was unexpectedly killed off the show with no prior indication?

The shocking act of violence on the show seemed strange because it wasn’t part of the original storyline. Instead, it came from the actor’s own strong beliefs. Four years later, we’re learning more about why he decided to leave the show and how the producers respected his decision. Let’s revisit September 26, 2021, to understand why Jackson West’s character was unexpectedly killed off on The Rookie.

Who Is Jackson West in The Rookie?


ABC

Jackson West, played by Makin Jr., was a key character for the first three seasons of The Rookie. He’s a young and eager LAPD officer, though a bit naive, who always strived to live up to his father’s example. His father, Percy West (Michael Beach), leads the LAPD’s Internal Affairs and instilled strong morals and a dedication to law enforcement in his son. After graduating top of his class from the police academy, Jackson joined the Mid-Wilshire Division, where he was trained by Jonathan Nolan (Nathan Fillion), an experienced officer who started his career as a rookie.

Jackson West is determined to be an exemplary police officer and uphold the values his badge symbolizes, driven by a desire to make his father proud and continue the family’s legacy in law enforcement. However, during the first season, their relationship fractured when Jackson learned his father had intentionally fabricated evidence to secure a conviction.

During his first two seasons, Jackson received training from LAPD Officer Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz), and they developed a close, supportive relationship both as colleagues and friends, especially as Jackson grew distant from his father. When Lopez was unavailable, Quigley Smitty (Brent Huff) stepped in to train him, but Jackson always remembered the significant impact Lopez had on his progress.

During the third season, Jackson’s training with LAPD Officer Doug Stanton (Brandon Routh), who openly expressed racist views, caused problems both on and off screen. Jackson jeopardized his career by challenging Stanton’s prejudice, and Lieutenant Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones) helped him gather evidence that led to Stanton’s dismissal. However, when Stanton was unexpectedly reinstated, Jackson was understandably furious, and the actor portraying him, Makin Jr., was dissatisfied with the show’s storyline.

Before things fell apart for Makin Jr., Jackson West finished his training with Officer Nolan in Season 3, Episode 9, “Amber,” and became a fully qualified Police Officer II. However, just six episodes later, he was unexpectedly killed, and the motive behind his murder remains a mystery to some viewers.

Why Was Jackson West Killed Off in Season 4?


ABC

The fourth season of The Rookie begins with a surprising and confusing opening. The episode continues the story from the previous season, focusing on the kidnapping of Officer Lopez by drug trafficker Sandra de La Cruz, also known as La Feira. The season 3 finale showed Officer Nolan arriving right after Lopez was taken, but he only found her bracelet – her body was nowhere to be seen.

The episode “Life and Death” immediately throws viewers into action with Officer Jackson West attempting to save Officer Lopez from a dangerous attack. However, Jackson is unexpectedly shot in the back, and his face isn’t seen during the scene. This was due to the actor playing Jackson, Makin Jr., deciding to leave the show and refusing to film a final scene. A stunt double was used instead, resulting in a disappointing and abrupt exit that frustrated many viewers and led to speculation about the reasons behind Makin Jr.’s departure.

Noah Makin Jr. left the show The Rookie mainly because he felt it didn’t realistically portray police brutality against Black people. He pointed to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020, arguing the show should address such issues. As a Black actor playing a Black police officer, Makin Jr. was uncomfortable with the show’s message and didn’t want to continue being a part of it.

Despite considering leaving The Rookie before its third season, Alan Makin Jr. stayed with the show, hoping it would address important issues like racial profiling and police brutality against minority groups. Unfortunately, after three seasons with little progress on these topics, he decided to leave and explore other opportunities.

What Has Titus Makin Jr. Been Up To Since Leaving The Rookie?


ABC

Titus Makin Jr. played Officer Jackson West on the TV show The Rookie for 54 episodes between 2018 and 2021. He decided to leave the show because he wanted to see more storylines addressing systemic racism within the LAPD, and also to focus on his music and explore other acting opportunities. Since leaving The Rookie, Makin Jr. has appeared in NCIS: Hawai’i and has been working on several films, including Aliens on Halloween, On the Come Up, Pool Service, Inc., and his latest project, Sins of the Bride.

Since 2020, musician Makin Jr. has been creating music as Butterfly Ali, mixing genres like soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B. While his YouTube channel hasn’t been updated recently, you can find his music on Spotify and other streaming platforms. He recently announced a new EP on Instagram, which seems to be his 2021 release, Preacher’s Kid. Makin Jr. is also popular on TikTok, with 1.1 million followers, where he shares fun, creative content showcasing his musical talents.

Although fans were disappointed by the way Jackson West’s character left The Rookie, actor Titus Makin Jr. seems at peace with his decision. He chose to leave because he felt the show wasn’t adequately addressing real-world police brutality and racism. Makin Jr. believed that continuing to portray a Black police officer without acknowledging these systemic issues would only worsen the problem, rather than contribute to a solution.

The Rookie is available to stream on Hulu

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2025-11-10 02:51