When Jackson confronted his father in the episode "Homefront," Percy did not flatly deny crossing lines. Instead, he offered a nuanced justification:
Was this "dirty"?
Jackson West (played by Titus Makin Jr.) was introduced as a legacy. His father, Commander Percy West, was a titan within the LAPD. He was high-ranking, respected, and incredibly demanding. From day one, Jackson was burdened by his father’s shadow. Percy West didn't just want his son to be a cop; he wanted him to be the best cop, fast-tracked for promotion to Detectives and eventually Command. was jackson west's dad a dirty cop
However, as the series progressed, the definition of "dirty" began to blur. When Jackson confronted his father in the episode
He was never shown accepting a bribe. He never physically harmed a suspect. In fact, his primary conflict with Jackson stems from Jackson’s idealism. Percy operates on a pragmatic, if cynical, principle: You cannot change the machine from outside it. You have to rise high enough to steer it. His father, Commander Percy West, was a titan
The definitive answer, according to the show’s text, is (he never took bribes, planted evidence, or committed crimes for personal gain). However, the deeper, more honest answer is that Percy West was complicit—an "enabler"—which, in the court of public opinion and modern policing ethics, is often just as damning.
Ironically, the character serves as the for the LAPD. This position places him in charge of investigating other officers for the very same "noble cause" infractions he admitted to committing earlier in his career.