Family of Slain Chicago Officer Sues City, Citing Ignored Warnings About Partner
CHICAGO, Ill. — The family of Officer Krystal Rivera, who was fatally shot by her partner Carlos Baker during a pursuit in June, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Chicago. The suit accuses the Chicago Police Department of ignoring repeated warnings about Baker’s dangerous behavior despite a history of misconduct and complaints.
Rivera, 36, was shot on June 5 while she and Baker attempted to apprehend an armed suspect. According to the complaint, the officers pulled over a motorist suspected of carrying a weapon, which led to a foot chase ending outside an apartment building. Baker forcibly entered the building and fired at the suspect, but tragically struck Rivera in the back instead.
The lawsuit, filed by Rivera’s mother Yolanda, states that the department was aware of numerous complaints against Baker, including an incident where he allegedly threatened a former girlfriend with a firearm inside a bar. Despite these red flags, Baker continued to be assigned to work alongside Rivera. The complaint also reveals that Rivera had ended a two-year on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Baker shortly before the shooting and had voiced concerns to supervisors about his behavior.
“Krystal understood the dangers of this job. She accepted the risk that came with policing. What she never should have had to fear was her own partner,” Yolanda Rivera said. “That betrayal cost Krystal’s life.”
Family attorney Antonio Romanucci emphasized that Baker’s misconduct record was extensive, with 11 complaints over three years, placing him among the officers with the worst disciplinary histories in the department. In one 2022 case, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability reviewed allegations that Baker brandished a gun at an ex-girlfriend inside a tavern, though no formal disciplinary action was taken.
The lawsuit further alleges that after shooting Rivera, Baker fled to another floor instead of calling for help or administering first aid. Rivera reportedly radioed in her own shooting as she lay wounded. Romanucci criticized the department for submitting misleading reports to state regulators that suggested the shots came from a barricaded suspect rather than from Baker.
The Chicago Police Department has faced scrutiny in recent years for issues related to officer misconduct and accountability. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) investigates complaints against officers, but critics argue that disciplinary measures are often insufficient.
The lawsuit underscores broader concerns about police safety and internal oversight. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, incidents of officer-involved shootings where officers are harmed by colleagues remain rare but deeply troubling when they occur.
As the case proceeds, the family seeks to hold the city accountable for what they describe as a preventable tragedy caused by systemic failures. The lawsuit aims to bring attention to the need for more rigorous screening and supervision of officers with histories of misconduct.
For more information on police accountability and officer safety, see resources from the Police Executive Research Forum and the U.S. Department of Justice. This case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement agencies face balancing officer safety with community trust and internal discipline.
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