October 11, 2019 (Washington, DC) – This morning, Sikhs launched nationwide efforts to implore their members of Congress to honor the late Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal through a congressional resolution.
On Friday, September 27, 2019, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Dhaliwal was shot and killed at a traffic stop in northwest Houston, Texas. Serving in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office since 2009, Deputy Dhaliwal made headlines in 2015 for becoming the first officer in the department--and the state of Texas--to serve with his Sikh articles of faith. In doing so, he exemplified the Sikh ideal of seva (selfless service) to his Houston community.
In the days and weeks since his passing, Sikhs and others across the nation have joined the Houston sangat in honoring Deputy Dhaliwal and supporting his family and friends through this trying time.
The bipartisan delegation of members of Congress from Houston, led by Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, introduced H. Res. 616 to honor Deputy Dhaliwal and his legacy of seva, or selfless service to the community.
The Sikh Coalition assisted Congresswoman Fletcher with composing this resolution, and we continue working to honor Deputy Dhaliwal’s legacy through spearheading this initiative on a national scale.
Last week, we also worked with 98 current and former Sikh American law enforcement officials and U.S. military servicemembers to deliver letters calling on their respective institutions to streamline religious accommodations in the spirit of Deputy Dhaliwal’s service.
This bipartisan congressional resolution will honor Deputy Dhaliwal at one of the highest levels in our federal government and send another message to Americans that his legacy will not soon be forgotten.