Sandeep Dhaliwal, Houston’s First Sikh Police Deputy, Murdered During Traffic Stop

On Friday, Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Texas. Back in 2015, the deputy was the first law enforcement official in Texas allowed to wear “articles of faith” while on duty. Dhaliwal was a Sikh and the first of his faith to serve in that sheriff’s office.

According to Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Sandeep pulled over a car and spoke with its driver around 1:00 p.m. As Dhaliwal was walked back to his patrol car, the driver he had stopped allegedly got out of his car and shot Dhaliwal in the back of the head. The driver then fled the scene.

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Dhaliwal was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital and pronounced deceased at 4:01 p.m.

Robert Solis, 47, was arrested later at shopping center and charged with capital murder.

At the time of the shooting, Solis had an active Parole Violation Warrant for Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon from January 2017. He was denied bond Saturday morning.

In a press conference Friday afternoon, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated, “Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, a 10-year veteran, was a hero, was a respected member of the community and he was a trailblazer. He was a father I believe of three children, he was a husband, a brother and a son.”

A community led vigil was held in Dhaliwal’s honor Friday night and throughout the day the Harris County Sheriff’s Office tweeted out memories of Dhaliwal and outpourings of support from the community.

Both Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Presidential candidate/former Texas Representative Beto O’Rourke tweeted condolences as well.