REMEMBERING SANDEEP DHALIWA
Houstonians invited to pay tribute to Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal at public services
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
Funeral services have been announced for Sandeep Dhaliwal, the Harris County Sheriff's deputy who was killed during a routine traffic stop Friday, September 27 in northwest Houston.
The public is invited to a law enforcement ceremony and a Sikh religious ceremony on Wednesday, October 2, at the Berry Center (8877 Barker Cypress Rd.) in Cypress, Texas. The Sikh religious ceremony starts at 10:30 am; the law enforcement services follow at 11 am. The public is invited to both, space permitting, according to the HCSO.
A beloved community figure who was the first Sikh in HCSO history, Dhaliwal was gunned down on Friday during a traffic stop and died later of his wounds. The suspect has been identified as Robert Solis, who has been charged with capital murder in connection with Dhaliwal's death, according to the HCSO.
The 41-year-old Dhaliwal was a father of three children. He was a 10-year veteran of the sheriff's office and made history when he was allowed to wear his turban and beard, both symbols of the Sikh faith, on duty by then-sheriff Adrian Garcia. He quickly became a local and national sensation, popular for his connection with his local community, his fundraising efforts during Hurricane Harvey, and the awareness he raised about the Sikh faith.
He was also a champion of fellow law enforcement officers. When his colleague, Deputy Darren Goforth, was killed in northwest Harris County, Dhaliwal asked Houstonians to "just wear blue" in tribute. "Wear blue and be proud of that," he told CultureMap content partner, ABC13. "And that shows support to law enforcement. Simple as that."
In the days since his death, Houstonians have created myriad tributes to the fallen officer. A local Chick-fil-A adorned a memorial table for Dhaliwal; local restaurants set up impromptu bake sales or have donated profits to his family.
Conitnue on CultureMap for information about a GoFundMe page set up for Dhaliwal's family.
