In 2015 Dhaliwal became Harris County's first sworn law enforcement officer to wear a turban.
As grieving colleagues, family and friends gathered at a candlelight vigil Monday, Bobby Singh, a leader in Houston's Sikh community, called Dhaliwal "an American who treated everyone justly" with "a heart of gold and a magnetic smile that touched all of us."
Today we had the privilege to honor Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal at a candlelight vigil.
Deputy Dhaliwal was an extraordinary human being. The entire HCSO family and the community is grieved by the tragic loss of our brother.
A grateful community remembers fallen @HCSOTexas Deputy Dhaliwal. This makeshift memorial is growing as a steady flow of people have come from throughout the community to show their support. Deputy Dhaliwal loved serving this community and they loved him back.#HouNews#lesmpic.twitter.com/xRScPSuiPT
Adrian Garcia, Harris County commissioner and former sheriff, said the vigil was one of the most difficult moments of his life, calling the fallen deputy a brother to him.
Dhaliwal, a 42-year-old father and husband, always spread a message of kindness, Garcia said.
With uniformed deputies looking on, Garcia said to Dhaliwal's family, "I hope that you see Sandeep's face in everyone here today. Because this is who will help to raise your children, these are the people who will work to continue Sandeep's work. These are the ones who will work to bring down hate. This is your family."