Capt Amarinder Singh pays tribute to slain Indian-American Sikh cop

Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday paid a tribute to the slain Indian-American Sikh cop Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal. The Harris County officer was the first-ever turbaned policeman in the US. He had been 'ruthlessly' killed in Texas on Friday. The Punjab chief minister said he was anguished to learn about his murder and offered his condolences to his family. 

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Indian American Sikh cop killed 

The police officer died after being shot multiple times from behind in a "ruthless, cold-blooded way" during a traffic stop in the US state of Texas, a senior official said Saturday. Gonzalez said Dhaliwal, a 10-year veteran of the department, stopped a vehicle with a man and woman inside and one of them got out and shot him "ambush-style" at least twice in a "ruthless, cold-blooded way." The shooter was seen running to a shopping centre nearby, officials said. Dhaliwal was in his early 40s.

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Dhaliwal remembered as a kind human being

Dhaliwal was married and a father of three children. "Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was a trailblazer. He was an example for many. He represented his community with respect and pride," said Commissioner Adrian Garcia. "Deputy Dhaliwal is known to everybody as someone with a giving heart," Gonzalez said. "Post (Hurricane) Harvey, when we needed the help most, he brought an 18-wheeler of people that he gathered together, that came all the way from California to deliver goods to our community."

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Dhaliwal was first turbaned cop

Since 2015, Dhaliwal was the "history-making" police officer in Texas to serve while keeping his Sikh articles of faith, including a turban and beard. He was allowed to wear the turban and beard while patrolling the streets in order to bolster cultural diversity. With this policy, one of the largest sheriff's offices in the country had affirmed that a person does not have to choose between their faith and a career of service. Since 9/11, misperceptions about Sikhs' religiously mandated turbans and beards have led to an increase in discrimination against the community.

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