HOUSTON -- A Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy died Friday, shortly after being shot during a traffic stop Friday near Cypress, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Sandeep Dhaliwal, 42, pulled over a vehicle around 12:45 p.m. in the 14800 block of Willancy Court when someone approached him from behind and opened fire, striking him multiple times, Gonzalez said. Dhaliwal was a 10-year veteran on the force, and the agency's first Sikh deputy.
"He was a hero," Gonzalez said. "Deputy Dhaliwal was a trailblazer."
He was taken by helicopter ambulance to the Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died. Authorities detained a possible suspect, the sheriff tweeted about 2:30 p.m.
Harris County Sheriff's Office Maj. Mike Lee said dashcam video shows Dhaliwal and the suspect, still in his car, having a conversation with no sign of confrontation. A few seconds after Dhaliwal returned to his squad car, the suspect ran up and shot him, Lee said.
He said that a woman who was outside gardening nearby, heard the shot and then saw the suspect run to a getaway car. She ran to Dhaliwal and called 911. Lee said the suspect then went to a store nearby.
The deputy is well-known in the community and a close personal friend, Gonzalez said. The sheriff recounted Dhaliwal's efforts after Hurricane Harvey, and how he went to Puerto Rico after the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria.
Dhaliwal worked with United Sikhs, a global humanitarian relief and advocacy nonprofit, to help organize the donation of truckloads of supplies for first responders after Harvey.
Four years ago, then-Sheriff Adrian Garcia implemented a religious accommodation policy to allow Dhaliwal to wear the dastaar (turban) and beard customary to his religion for the first time while patrolling Harris County streets.
"There are no words to speak to how heartbroken we are, how devastated," Gonzalez said. "Our deputies are out there protecting the community as they do every single day."
David Cuevas, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization, described the deputy as a pillar of the community with a heart of gold.
"After Harvey he was able to mobilize the community and raise more than a $1 million in flood relief," Cuevas said. "We are hurting. We are devastated but we are going to rally and continue to protect the citizens of Harris County. And we are awaiting justice for the shooter."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as they come in.
Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area.
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