America’s first Sikh police officer, Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot dead on Friday (local time) in northwest Harris County in Houston.
#BREAKING ; America’s First turbaned Sikh police officer shot Friday during a traffic stop in northwest Harris County in Houston. pic.twitter.com/fqaUCnBt59
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ راویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) September 27, 2019
India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter to express grief on the murder of the Sikh Indian-American police officer and pay his condolences to the bereaved family.
He said, “Deeply saddened to hear about the murder of Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, a Sikh Indian-American officer in Houston, USA. We recently went to that city. My condolences to his family.
Deeply grieved to learn of the shooting of Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, a Sikh Indian-American officer in Houston. We have just visited that city. My condolences to his family. https://t.co/BBUJOFcjB8
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 28, 2019
The Houston Chronicle (the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas) quoted Sheriff Ed Gonzalez as saying that Harris County Sherrif’s Office Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot at when he pulled over a vehicle. Someone approached him from behind and opened fire at him.
Sandeep Dhaliwal was a 10-year veteran in the force and the agency’s first Sikh deputy. He was taken by helicopter ambulance to the Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The authorities have arrested two people in connection with the fatal shooting and a weapon was found that deputies believed was used to shoot Dhaliwal, informed the Sheriff.
“This guy had a heart of gold, he treated his brothers and sisters in law enforcement as if they were just brothers and sisters. He thought of them before he thought of himself. He thought of the broader community before he thought of himself,” said Adrian Garcia, Harris County police commissioner.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, released a statement on Friday, saying “this tragic loss is a grave reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every single day.”
“I thank the officers who bravely responded to apprehend the suspect, and I assure you that the state of Texas is committed to bringing this killer to justice,” Abbott said.
Dhaliwal worked with United Sikhs, an NGO, to help organize the donation of truckloads of supplies for Americans after the devastating Hurricane Harvey in Texas wreaked havoc in August 2017.
Four years ago, the then Sheriff implemented a policy to allow Dhaliwal to wear turban and beard for the first time while patrolling Harris County streets.
