A memorial service photo of Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was fatally shot while on duty. (Ras Siddiqui)

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was just doing his job when he stopped someone for a routine traffic stop on Sept. 27. According to police reports, he was followed by the prime suspect, a person with a criminal, record currently on probation, who followed the deputy back to his patrol car, and then shot him twice, with a fatal bullet hitting the back of Dhaliwal’s head. Thus ended the life of a very popular man, a father of three who was possibly the first turbaned Sikh person to hold such an office in the United States. His sad demise has sent a wave of sorrow throughout the South Asian community in America.

Interfaith Prayer Leaders

Many vigils have been organized for Sherriff’s Deputy Dhaliwal across the country. One such event was held at the California State Capitol building (North Steps), Oct. 4, by a group of Punjabi friends with Inderjit Singh Kallirai and Guri Kang in the lead. Hundreds attended here from all walks of life, not only from the Sikh community in the region but many Indians, Pakistanis and people from several other communities who now call Sacramento, Calif., their home. Tragedies like this one unite us all. Local law enforcement was also heavily represented here and it was worth noting that some members of our Desi community who have chosen to be peace officers made it a point to vocalize their sentiments here.

Emcee Inderjit Kallirai started the vigil formalities with words of welcome and thanked everyone for attending. He said that this evening was significant because the Late Deputy Sheriff Dhaliwal was a pioneer and a trailblazer, the first Turbaned Sikh Deputy in the USA. He added that it is not easy to be in this attire while working for law enforcement or the military. There are a lot of hurdles that people have to overcome, dress code and everything else, and he (Dhaliwal) was one who managed to get through all those hurdles, as he joined the Sheriff’s Department in Houston. Kallirai added that America is a land of immigrants and we all came here one way or another (whether your ancestors were on the Mayflower or if you flew in just yesterday on a Boeing 747).

Inderjit and Guri

The evening started off with a silent prayer followed by four members of the area interfaith community commencing with the Giani from the regional Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara, Balbinder Singh who gave a somber delivery in Punjabi on this sad occasion. Next was Pastor O.J. Swanigan who said a prayer for the Dhaliwal family, the Sikh community and our community and nation at large. He also prayed for all the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day in our country and globally. From the Sacramento Muslim Community Akram Keval appeared visibly moved by emotion this evening as he read a few words from the Holy Quran “To God we belong. And to God we shall return.” Officer Dhaliwal was taken away from us recently, he said. On behalf of the Muslim community we send our condolences to the family, and pray to God to accept his soul, forgive his sins and have mercy on his family. Closing the prayer segment, from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Community Relations Board, Bill Cardosa said that he was honored to join us here to pay tribute to our fallen Deputy. He asked the Heavenly Father to bless the Sikh Community, bless the family of Sheriff Deputy Sandeep, and bless the Texas law enforcement community as we honor this officer who is remembered as being humble and fearless.

Sacramento County Sheriff Department
Sacramento County Sheriff Department
Police Cadets

Soon after, Inderjit Kallirai asked the gathering to appreciate and applaud all the people in uniform who make sure that we sleep safely at night, a very long list of speakers took the opportunity to share their views. For this report we only can name just a few. Citrus Heights City Council Member, Porche Middleton, Sheriff Deputy Z. Buksh, CHP Officer Pardeep Singh, Punjab Police DSP Manpreet Singh Kang, Pardeep Singh, and from Elk Grove Unified, Bobby Singh-Allen, Cosumnes CSD Director Rod Brewer, and from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Sue Frost. The India Association of Sacramento (IAS) was well represented too by Dr. Bhavin Parikh and Y.K.Chalam. This writer represented the area Pakistani-American community along with others. A special mention is also warranted here for a group of future law enforcement cadets who made this occasion more memorable (as we look into the future).

Vigil at the State Capitol. (All photos: Ras Siddiqui)
Vigil at the State Capitol. (All photos: Ras Siddiqui)

To conclude the one positive that we can all take away from this event is that all attendees South Asian origin or not, grieved together here for a fallen Sikh Sheriff’s Deputy. But unfortunately that does not in any way shape or form minimize the tragedy that has befallen the Dhaliwal family. May God help to ease their immense pain somehow.