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Incident
Agent Thomas Riggs was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit that ended in the driveway of 6564 Brooklyn Avenue. One of the subjects in the vehicle was able to gain control of another officer's handgun. The suspect shot and paralyzed the other officer before shooting Agent Riggs in the stomach, severing an artery. The suspect then shot a civilian ride along before stealing one of the police cars and running over the second officer. The suspect was eventually caught but acquitted of all major charges and has since been arrested several times for violent crimes. In July 2002 the suspect committed suicide. Agent Riggs had served with the San Diego Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Agent Riggs gave the San Diego Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Riggs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1985, 1 officer at San Diego Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 2.
In 1985, 6 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1985, 125 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 46th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 27. Of the 27 killed feloniously at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 37; the middle age was 33. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Thomas was 27. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 27. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 27. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 3.7% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; June holds the most, 22.2%. Sundays: 25.9%.
March holds 7.6% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 7.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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Emery E. Campbell
Aug 27, 1913
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Oliver S. Hopkins
Jul 2, 1915
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Walter B. Holcomb
Oct 21, 1918
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Joseph S. Lee
Mar 19, 1921
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Charles R. Harris
Apr 3, 1927
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Robert Lee Powers
Jun 16, 1928
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Robert B. McPherson
Sep 19, 1929
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Edward J. Moore
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas Albert Keays
Nov 20, 1937
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Henry J. Goodrich
Sep 7, 1940
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Robert F. Bowers
Dec 12, 1955
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Harry Kay, Jr.
Mar 11, 1957
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Michael J. Bushman
Nov 25, 1963
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Robert L. Everitt
Dec 7, 1964
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James P. Lewis
Dec 29, 1970
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Freddie Joel Edwards
Oct 7, 1971
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Denis W. Allen
Apr 2, 1977
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Archie Calvin Buggs
Nov 4, 1978
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Michael T. Anaya
Apr 11, 1979
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Dennis Glenn Gonzales
Jun 25, 1979
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Ronald R. Ebeltoft
Jun 6, 1981
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Harry Keith Tiffany
Jun 6, 1981
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Kirk Leland Johnson
Feb 20, 1983
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Kimberly Sue Tonahill
Sep 14, 1984
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Timothy J. Ruopp
Sep 16, 1984
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Thomas Edward Riggs
Mar 31, 1985
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Jerry L. Hartless
Jan 31, 1988
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Ronald Wayne Davis
Sep 17, 1991
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Gerald Kieffer Griffin, Jr.
Apr 25, 2003
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Terry William Bennett
Jun 26, 2003
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Christopher Alan Wilson
Oct 28, 2010
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Jeremy Nicholas Henwood
Aug 7, 2011
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Jonathan Matias De Guzman
Jul 28, 2016
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Jason Paul Zdunich
Jun 10, 2019
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Daniel Gene Walters
Apr 23, 2020
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Ryan Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Jamie Huntley-Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Austin Machitar
Aug 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from San Diego Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
