REMEMBRANCE - DEPUTY SANDEEP DHALIWALCHEZ

Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwalchez
Article and Artwork By Jonny Castro 

It began as a simple traffic violation on Friday afternoon. The patrol car’s dashboard camera captured the entire encounter from start to finish. Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal approached the vehicle and began speaking with the driver. As he walked back to his patrol car to check the male’s information, the driver (who was wanted on a parole violation) immediately got out and gunned down the deputy. Sandeep had his back turned and was never given the opportunity to defend himself. He suffered numerous gunshot wounds to the head. Deputy Dhaliwal was airlifted to the hospital, where he was unable to be revived. His killer was apprehended at a nearby store after he was spotted by an alert citizen. 

Deputy Dhaliwal was a 10-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. After completing his training, he was deputized and officially became the agency’s first Sikh deputy. Deputy Dhaliwal was a walking lesson in tolerance and understanding; a beacon for his community. He was a quiet but confident leader. 

Deputy Dhaliwal leaves behind a wife and three young children. He was 42 years old.