VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Family, friends, community members and organizations gathered Saturday at Mount Trashmore Park to remember the life of Rolin Hill, a man whose death was ruled a homicide after he was detained, booked into the Virginia Beach Correctional Center and suffered a medical emergency.

Three former Virginia Beach Sheriff’s deputies were charged with 2nd degree murder following Hill’s death.

The goal of the gathering was to make sure what happened to Rolin doesn’t happen to anyone else. 

Speakers at the rally say Hill was detained while suffering a mental health episode at a 7/11 last June. 

“He unfortunately, he was experiencing a mental health crisis in Virginia Beach. He was taken to the Virginia Beach City Jail in handcuffs and shackled by his hands and shackled by his feet,” said JaPharii Jones, BLM 757 leader.

All those who gathered Saturday advocated for better mental health treatment in the state of Virginia and the United States in general. Attendees chanted Rolin’s name and one clear message: “Mental health matters.”

Multiple people spoke during the rally, including Rolin’s father, Stanley Hill, who said more needs to be done to spark real change when it comes to mental health. 

“Local law enforcement should focus on the safety of the subject’s environment and the well-being of the individual in crisis. Local law enforcement should be trained in crisis intervention and have a vast knowledge of techniques to be utilized to handle these situations effectively,” said Stanley Hill.

Kathy, an attendee at the rally told us why she made the drive from Hampton to be present at the gathering.  

“I think that we in the U.S., and this is happening everywhere, it’s not just Virginia Beach, but we are not doing enough to make sure people with mental health problems are being taken care of. And instead, you’re just processing them through the system, and that’s not what’s going to get them help. That’s not what’s going to make us succeed as a society.” 

Rolin’s family will be holding a vigil on June 10, the one-year anniversary of his death. Commonwealth Counseling Agency, a local organization that specializes in mental health advocacy, education and support was also present at today’s rally. Contact the organization at (757) 964-6302.