Jackson West, played by Titus Makin Jr., left "The Rookie" because the actor decided not to return to the show. Behind the scenes, Titus Makin Jr. had personal and real-life reasons for this decision, including his discomfort with portraying a Black police officer without addressing systemic racial issues and the realities faced by Black cops. Makin had conversations with the show's creator about these concerns and expressed a preference to be written out rather than continue without authentically representing these complexities. As a result, Jackson West's character was killed off in season 4, and the show honored the character's legacy with a tribute in the storyline. Since leaving, Makin has pursued other acting roles and his music career.