Ted Cruz pays his respects to slain Sikh US police officer Dhaliwal

The United States Senator for Texas, Ted Cruz spoke to thousands of people during the Sikh part of the funeral ceremony for slain Sikh police officer, Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal. Ted Cruz told Dhaliwal’s wife and children that the community "supports you and lifts you up”. "We are grateful for your father's service, and his sacrifice and his legacy," Cruz said. Dhaliwal, the father of three, joined the force 10 years back and was the state's first law enforcement officer to receive permission to wear a religious turban and beard while on duty.   

Slain Police Officer 

Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was shot dead on duty during a traffic stop last week. Dhaliwal (42), was the first Sikh sheriff's deputy in Harris County with a population of over 10,000 Sikhs. Dhaliwal made national headlines when he was given permission to grow a beard and wear a turban on the job. He was gunned down while conducting a routine mid-day traffic stop in the northwest of Houston.

The fallen deputy's funeral included processions, a traditional Sikh funeral and a law enforcement funeral with a 21-gun salute from fellow officers and a helicopter flyover.   

Read: Outpouring of grief at Sikh US policeman Sandeep Dhaliwal's funeral

Read: Sikh Police Officer Gets Killed In Line Of Duty In The United States

Other dignitaries and Authorities pay their respects 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also spoke to Dhaliwal's funeral. He said, "Since 2015, we've lost 50... 50 men and women of law enforcement in the line of duty and Deputy Dhaliwal was the fiftieth. Sandeep did more in his life than some people do in a hundred years."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said it was "moments like these when we fall on our faith. Dhaliwal was the ambassador of all that is good. And the way he died does not erase that. In a city that happens to be the most diverse in the country, is a city, because of this one person, on this day and hopefully days to come, will be the most unified it has ever been."

Read: EAM Jaishankar condoles murder of Texas Sikh officer Sandeep Dhaliwal

Read: Neighbor: Texas gunman was ‘violent, aggressive person

(With PTI Inputs)