A Chicago police officer’s death during a pursuit earlier this year has sparked a wrongful death lawsuit, revealing a disturbing pattern of ignored warnings and alleged misconduct. Officer Krystal Rivera, 36, was fatally shot by her partner, and her family now contends the department knowingly placed her in danger.
The lawsuit, filed by Rivera’s mother, Yolanda, alleges the Chicago Police Department was fully aware of Officer Carlos Baker’s history of reckless behavior and violent tendencies. Despite multiple complaints, Baker was repeatedly assigned to work alongside Rivera, creating a situation ripe for tragedy.
Rivera herself repeatedly voiced concerns to supervisors about Baker’s volatile behavior. Their on-again, off-again romantic relationship, which ended shortly before the shooting, was fraught with tension and fear, according to the complaint.
Yolanda Rivera expressed the unimaginable pain of losing her daughter not to the dangers of the job, but to the betrayal of a trusted colleague. “Krystal understood the dangers of this job… What she never should have had to fear was her own partner,” she stated, emphasizing the devastating breach of trust.
The incident unfolded during a foot chase after a traffic stop involving a suspect believed to be armed. Baker allegedly kicked in a door and fired his weapon, tragically striking Rivera in the back instead of the intended target.
What followed, according to the family’s attorney, was a shocking abandonment of duty. Instead of providing aid, Baker allegedly fled to another floor of the building, leaving Rivera wounded and struggling for her life. She bravely radioed for help herself.
The lawsuit further claims the department attempted to mislead investigators by filing reports suggesting the shots originated from a barricaded suspect, obscuring Baker’s involvement and hindering a proper investigation.
Baker’s disciplinary record paints a troubling picture. In just three years, he amassed eleven misconduct complaints, placing him among the officers with the most serious allegations against them. These included a disturbing incident where he allegedly threatened an ex-girlfriend with a gun in a public bar.
Rivera joined the CPD in 2021 and was initially paired with Baker in 2023. After requesting a new partner due to his “prior reckless conduct,” she was later reassigned to work with him again when she transferred to a tactical team.
The final break in their relationship came last winter when Rivera discovered Baker was living with another woman. She confided in colleagues about her fear of his reaction, noting he continued to appear uninvited at her home even the day before the shooting.
The family’s attorney argues Baker should have been removed from the force long before the tragic incident. “He never should have gotten past his probationary period,” the attorney stated, asserting Baker was unfit to serve and wield the power of a firearm.
While the Cook County State’s Attorney previously declined to prosecute Baker, Rivera’s family hopes the lawsuit will uncover new evidence and compel a reevaluation of the case. They seek justice for a life cut short and accountability for a system that failed to protect her.
Colleagues remember Rivera as a dedicated mentor and a promising officer, deeply committed to her work and the community she served. Her loss is a profound blow to the department and a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who protect and serve.
