West speaks to Rankin County leaders, law enforcement and offenders

    Rankin and Madison District Attorney (DA) John K. Bramlett’s office sponsored multiple events on September 20, 2022. The DA’s office brought internationally known speaker and author Damon West to share his story with diverse audiences across Rankin County.

    The morning began with West speaking to a room full of Rankin County community leaders. Later he shared his message with law enforcement officers from around the state who were attending the Blue to Gold Law Enforcement Training Conference sponsored by the DA’s Office, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, US Attorney’s Office, and other local businesses and leaders.

    During the afternoon, West spoke to participants in the District Attorney’s Pretrial Intervention Program before speaking to Twentieth Circuit Drug Court participants. He ended the day talking with trusties in the Rankin County Adult Detention Center.

    The inspirational story of his roller-coaster life: having it all with great loving parents, being a D1 college starting quarterback, working for a Presidential Candidate and stockbroker, to living on the streets as a crystal meth addict and a burglar can relate across all sides of the law.

    West discussed his life as a ringleader of burglary crimes in Dallas, Texas, that left his victims out of tens of thousands of dollars and him with a life sentence of 65 years in a Texas maximum-security prison. When speaking with law enforcement, he focused on how if they weren’t careful, their hearts would quickly harden because of their demanding jobs. When speaking with those currently incarcerated in the Rankin County Adult Detention Center, he focused on how prison was not a punishment but rather an opportunity to better themselves before being released. Finally, he related to the inmates and talked about how he is on parole until 2073, so he too must fight his addiction daily, and he cannot make even one mistake that would lead him back to prison to finish serving his life sentence.

    Regardless of the audience, West left everyone with the same message that they should all live servant leadership lives. In addition, he encouraged everyone to “Be A Coffee Bean,” which is the lesson he learned in prison and carries out into the world today to make a difference in the lives of others.