Dhaliwal was first Sikh American in Texas to serve with his turban and beard.
A post office in Houston is set to be named after slain Sikh police officer Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was gunned down in the line of duty during a routine traffic stop last year.
Decks were cleared for renaming the post office at 315 Addicks Howell Road in Houston as “Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office Building” with the US Congress passing the necessary legislation.
The Senate has just passed a bill to rename the post office. The House did so in September. The bill is now headed to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law.
The post office named after Dhaliwal in Houston is only the second American post office named after an Indian American.
READ: Houston tollway named after Indian American police officer Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal (October 13, 2020)
The first one was named after the first Indian American Congressman Dalip Singh Saund in Southern California in 2006.
“The US Postal Office on Addicks Howell Road in Houston will now serve as a lasting tribute to Deputy Dhaliwal’s trailblazing legacy for Sikh Americans and religious minorities in law enforcement,” Republican senator Ted Cruz said.
Born in India, Dhaliwal moved to the US along with his parents to Houston where he grew deep roots.
The first Sikh police officer to serve in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, he was considered a role model and trailblazer for Sikh Americans and religious minorities that sought to serve in law enforcement.
RELATED: Houston post office to be renamed after Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal (September 21, 2020)
In 2015, Dhaliwal became the first Sikh American in Texas to receive a policy accommodation to serve with his articles of faith, including turban and beard. He was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 27, 2019 during a routine traffic stop.
“Our family remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support in this effort to commemorate my son,” said Pyara Singh Dhaliwal, Deputy Dhaliwal’s father.
“This gesture will memorialize his legacy of service to his beloved Houston, while also reminding us all to uphold his example and celebrate the diversity that makes our and so many other communities strong,” he said.
“We are very glad to see the Senate pass this important resolution and send it to the president’s desk” said Sim J. Singh, Sikh Coalition Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy.
“Signing this resolution into law and commemorating Deputy Dhaliwal in his city is an important way to affirm both his legacy and the fact that conscious efforts towards diversity and inclusion serve our communities well,” he added.
READ MORE:
Houstonians pay tribute to slain deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal (October 3, 2019 )
Trailblazing Texas county sheriff’s deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal killed during midday traffic stop (September 28, 2019)
Citing Dhaliwal, 98 Sikh American service members and law enforcement officials call for religious accommodation (October 15, 2019)
Slain Texas deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal’s funeral on Wednesday (September 30, 2019)