[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 1, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SANDEEP SINGH DHALIWAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN CRENSHAW

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2019

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Harris 
County Sheriff Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was tragically and 
senselessly murdered in the line of duty while serving the Houston 
community.
  Deputy Dhaliwal's life was devoted to service--to his family, his 
community, and the residents of Harris County.
  Deputy Dhaliwal helped coordinate disaster relief efforts after 
Hurricane Harvey. He worked with at-risk youth to improve their lives. 
He recently expressed a desire to start a free food bus to help feed 
the homeless, because he could not imagine people in his community 
going hungry. In the days before his passing, he expressed his dream of 
creating a fund for first responders and fallen heroes, which UNITED 
SIKHS will carry on in his name.
  Deputy Dhaliwal's service extended beyond his own community. He 
recently returned from volunteering in Puerto Rico, where he assisted 
in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. He also recently visited 
his ancestral village in Punjab to deliver water and other necessities 
to farmers during a drought.
  Deputy Dhaliwal was the first Sikh deputy in the Harris County 
Sheriff's Department's history to wear the Sikh articles of faith, 
including his dastaar (turban), kesh (unshorn hair), and kara (steel 
bracelet) on duty, breaking down the barrier between religious 
observance and uniformed service. He was proud--and his community was 
proud of him--for receiving his historic religious accommodation to 
serve. He was a role model for Sikh Americans nationwide who are 
interested in a career of service to our nation.
  Deputy Dhaliwal was known for his warm and welcoming personality. He 
was always willing to go out of his way to make the person with whom he 
was speaking feel respected.
  Deputy Dhaliwal was especially warm with children. Since the day of 
his final patrol, many parents have posted videos of Deputy Dhaliwal 
interacting with their children. They all ended with a warm hug.
  As a Houstonian, I am heartbroken over the loss of Deputy Dhaliwal, 
but as with every tragedy in my hometown, I am proud to see the 
community come together in the face of adversity. While this display of 
compassion does not come close to replacing the husband, father, and 
son his family lost, it is a small way of showing how much Houston 
appreciates Deputy Dhaliwal and his contributions to our community and 
the inspiration he created for Sikhs who want to serve our nation. He 
was a trailblazer and a hero.
  I urge all who hear and read this to take a moment to remember the 
life of Deputy Dhaliwal. The world would be a better place if we all 
lived by the example Deputy Dhaliwal set.

                          ____________________