Officer Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr) was a monumental character in The Rookie. He wasn’t just a cop — he was The Rookie‘s emotional anchor and its most visible queer character.
His taste in guys? Top-tier. His dating life? Messy, earnest, and unforgettable.
From cute nurses to cult members with fake names, Jackson’s love life was a rollercoaster — and every boyfriend left a mark. Let’s revisit the romances that made us root, cringe, and mourn.
Gino Brown
Gino is Jackson’s first boyfriend in the show. He is introduced in The Rookie, Season 1, Episode 11, and is revealed to be a nurse. American actor Cameron J. Armstrong plays him.
While following up on a case with Lopez (Alyssa Diaz), Jackson runs into Gino at a hospital’s front desk. Jackson recognizes him from somewhere else, and they immediately start flirting. Lopez looks on knowingly. Gino notes that Jackson cares for others and goes the extra mile, even when he shouldn’t.
No one goes out of their way for total strangers more than a nurse.
Jackson drops by the hospital later, armed with his best card: food. Anyone who saves a nurse from cafeteria food gets an automatic green flag. The flirting continues, leading to a date.
Unfortunately, despite how cute they are together, their relationship does not survive the pressure of their young careers. Jackson is trying to prove himself as a cop, not the nepo baby he thinks everyone sees him as. Being a nurse in a busy ER is not a walk in the park either, and the job demands change Gino.
Most interactions devolve into an argument, and they end up breaking up off-screen.
Photo: ABC (Screenhot)Sterling Freeman
Being a cop has its perks, one of them being getting to interact with celebrities. Like with Gino, Jackson meets Sterling Freeman while on duty in The Rookie Season 2 Episode 9, “Breaking Point.” Australian actor Daniel Lissing plays Sterling.
The connection is instantaneous, but Jackson mistakes it for starstruckness since Sterling is a handsome, popular actor.
However, it turns out to be more when Sterling takes the lead and starts flirting heavily with Jackson by asking for private ride-along lessons. A dinner date and a near-kiss later, the duo begins going steady.
However, things take a turn when, during one of those mockumentary episodes, it is revealed that Sterling is a liar and a criminal. His name is not even Sterling — it’s Skipper Young.
Jackson’s reaction to discovering that his new beau was a cult member who committed burglaries is captured in 4K. Oh, and he’s Australian!
Breakup? Immediate.
Photo: ABCIsaac Young
Dating a nurse and an actor may have been why those relationships failed, since they’re very different lines of work from being a cop, so for his next boyfriend, Jackson reins it in.
He meets Isaac during a routine day at work on The Rookie Season 3 Episode 6, “Revelations.” Isaac is a member of the LAPD mounted unit. American actor Joshua Triplett plays the character.
In the episode, Jackson jumps into action when he sees a woman’s car being stolen. He swiftly takes down the perp. While he has him pinned on the ground, Isaac arrives, trying to offer some help, but praises Jackson for being able to handle it on his own.
They connect with Silas March (Nik Sanchez), the neighborhood kid who keeps an eye on things, and he notices their intense flirting, gazing, and smiling.
Later that evening, they run into each other as they both bring Silas a brand new bike after his was stolen.
Jackson pulls his best flirtation card once again and asks Isaac out for a dinner date. It turns out word about Jackson’s cult member boyfriend has gone around, and Isaac has heard about it.
Jackson confirms that he broke up with Sterling, and Isaac agrees to go out to dinner with him.
Unfortunately, their relationship does not progress after Jackson dies in the Season 4 premiere.
Jackson deserved more time — and maybe a stable boyfriend.
Who is your favorite Jackson West boyfriend? Do you miss the character after his death? Drop a line in the comments section below.
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