HOUSTON – Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop in northwest Harris County Friday afternoon.
Dhaliwal was shot by a suspect at the 14000 block of Willancy Court at about 1 p.m. Friday. He was taken by LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann hospital in serious condition, where he later died.
A 10-year veteran, Dhaliwal joined the Harris County Sheriffs Office in 2008 as a detention officer and became a deputy four years later.
In 2015, Dhaliwal made history when the HCSO allowed him to keep his beard and wear a dastaar (turban) while on patrol — a requirement of his Sikh religion. He became the first HCSO deputy to be allowed to wear a turban and articles of the Sikh faith, while on duty.
With the help of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Dhaliwal helped change the department’s policy and make it more inclusive.