San Diego Police Department, California
End of Watch: Saturday, November 4, 1978
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 4, 1978
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life; paroled in 2020
Patrolman Archie Buggs was shot and killed after he made a traffic stop on two gang members for speeding in the 7100 block of Skyline Drive.
As he walked to the rear of the car one of the suspects exited the vehicle and shot him six times. Patrolman Buggs' partner located him laying in the street with his ticket book nearby. Both suspects were apprehended three hours later by San Diego Police.
Two suspects, ages 17 and 18, were convicted of Patrolman Buggs' murder and sentenced to life.
Governor Gavin Newsom reversed the shooter's parole on January 26, 2019. He was later granted parole in June 2020.
Patrolman Buggs, a Vietnam veteran, had served with the agency for four years. He was survived by his fiancee, whom he was set to marry in one month. He was also survived by his mother and by his siblings.
In November 2017, the Skyline substation was renamed Archie Buggs Memorial Building.