Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[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.
____________________