Hero goes home: Motorcade honors Officer Jeremy Hall

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A correctional officer killed in the line of duty is back home with his family, four days after his tragic passing.

With a final salute and motorcade tribute fit for a hero, friends, family and law enforcement partners brought Officer Jeremy Hall back home.

“I want everyone to keep saying his name. We’re not going to forget it,” said Chad Dotson, Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC).

The River North Correctional Officer was killed in the line of duty Monday after the VADOC says he was attacked by an inmate.

In those final moments, Dotson said Officer Hall was brave and showed what it means to be a correctional officer.

“His job at the time was to protect our nursing staff who were handing out medication to inmates, and he did without question,” said Dotson. “More people would have been hurt if not for, certainly, Officer Jeremy Hall.”

The duty and strength that goes into correctional work was on display as officers with RNCC joined the tribute departing the Medical Examiner’s office.

Dotson said as tragic as Officer Hall’s passing was, it’s bringing to light a change that needs to be made statewide.

“I think it’s time for the General Assembly to step up and treat these public safety professionals with the respect, give them the pay that they deserve because they do a job most people aren’t willing to do, and we need to respect that,” said Dotson.

That sentiment was echoed by Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash, who said he’s honored to have his office supporting the VADOC.

“I tell anybody, just because you work in a correction setting does not mean that you don’t do your job every day, and it’s easy work. It’s not easy work, it’s committed work,” said Sheriff Hash.

Those thoughts were shared with mourning as dozens of vehicles traveled back to Independence where Officer Hall will be laid to rest.

“There’ll be a lot of talk, a lot of some laughter when talking about his legacy, because he had such a positive impact on everyone. This will help to begin the process of remembering and grieving,” said Dotson.

Investigators are still working to find out what led to Officer Hall’s death, but the man accused of killing him is now in a higher-security prison in Wise County.