He abused his authority to pervert justice. However, the show brilliantly refuses to put him in handcuffs. Why? Because Percy West represents a different kind of corruption: Bureaucratic corruption.
Here is the complete breakdown of Percy West’s actions, the gray area of police morality, and the ultimate verdict. To answer the question, we have to look at the evidence. Jackson discovered that his father, a Deputy Chief, was involved in a conspiracy to cover up an assault.
For Jackson, the answer was clear: He turned his father in to Internal Affairs, destroying their relationship for the sake of integrity.
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Is Jackson West’s Dad a Dirty Cop? Unpacking the Morality of The Rookie’s Most Complicated Character
He isn't a villain. He is a system defender. He believes the rules exist for the little people. He believes that because he has a good heart and a clean record, he has the right to bend reality.