REMEMBERING SANDEEP DHALIWA

Houstonians invited to pay tribute to Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal at public services

Photo courtesy of ABC13

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.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Astros will look to capitalize on the Rangers' big loss. Composite Getty Image.

Injuries can be a hindrance or a help. Perspective is everything. Whether you're the guy injured, the one stepping up, the teammate of either, or the opponent of either, there's a way to look at things. You can take the positive approach: choosing to see things as a blessing in disguise and look forward to what the future holds. You can also take the negative approach: seeing how bad things are and how they'll torpedo what you're trying to do.

When news came down that Rangers' pitcher Jacob deGrom will miss significant time due to needing Tommy John surgery, I imagine how hard it must've hit their organization. The video of him tearfully talking about how he's going to miss time and whatnot must've been rough for them to watch. As an Astros fan, and admitted hater of all things that far north of The Wall, I didn't shed a single tear. Tough break!

The Astros have dealt with injuries every year since they've become a powerhouse contender. Every year, a prominent piece of this team misses time. And every year, this team finds a way to keep on winning. During the pandemic season, they still managed to make it to the ALCS. Starters, relievers, position players, suspensions, firings, sanctions, regime changes…NOTHING has stopped this train from rolling down the tracks!

If anything, it's motivated them to play harder and forced guys to step up. One could argue it's helped more than hurt. We've seen guys not only step up, but show out when thrust into the spotlight. Remember when Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander, and Lance McCullers Jr went down? Remember when guys left via free agency? Remember when there was a regime change due to scandal, then another due to creative/business differences? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Do I feel bad for deGrom? Of course. I wouldn't wish injury on any athlete. Well, not most of them. There are a few that…another day, another topic. I hope he comes back better than before. That would make beating them next season and the season after much better because they'll be at full strength. The Astros have constantly risen to the occasion. The Rangers will have to do the same. The difference is, the Astros have done it time and time again. The Rangers haven't won the division since 2016, and haven't been to a World Series since 2011. They don't have the same track record.

That's why I believe this season will be another Astros division title win. They have the firepower to continue to forge ahead, while an injury like this could derail the Rangers. They tried to buy their way to relevance this past offseason. As of this writing, they're 4.5 games up in the division. Other teams that have tried to buy their way into the postseason and/or a World Series aren't doing so well. The Yankees (-7.5), Angels (-9), Mets (-6.5, and Padres (-8) are all teams who've thrown money at attempts at winning and are all behind in their respective divisions.

Refer back to this article in August or September. I guarantee the Rangers will join that list and the Astros will be back in their rightful spot: atop the AL West and headed to the annual AL Astros Invitational, aka the ALCS.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome