Chicago Police ignored Officer Krystal Rivera’s desperate pleas for a new partner, leaving her vulnerable to the man who shot her in the back and abandoned her to die.
Story Snapshot
- CPD Officer Carlos Baker, with five prior misconduct complaints including a gun-flashing domestic incident, fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera during a June 5, 2025 foot chase.
- Rivera warned supervisors of Baker’s reckless conduct and requested reassignment after their breakup; CPD kept them paired despite known risks.
- A lawsuit filed December 11, 2025 by Rivera’s mother alleges Baker failed to render aid after shooting her, while the city ignored red flags.
- Case spotlights institutional failures in big-city policing, demanding accountability for negligent oversight.
Tragic Shooting Circumstances
On June 5, 2025, Chicago Police Officer Carlos Baker shot his partner, Officer Krystal Rivera, once in the back during a foot chase of an armed suspect in the Chatham neighborhood. The lawsuit claims Baker ran the opposite direction without calling for help or providing basic first aid, leaving Rivera to die. CPD initially called it friendly fire amid an apprehension attempt. Rivera, 36, joined CPD in February 2021 and partnered with Baker in January 2023. Their on-again, off-again romantic relationship began mid-2023 and became known to supervisors by September.
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Baker’s Documented Misconduct History
COPA records reveal Baker accumulated five sustained misconduct complaints before Rivera’s death, including a domestic-violence allegation where he flashed a gun at a woman he dated in a bar. The lawsuit asserts CPD failed to properly investigate, discipline, or remove Baker despite these red flags. Rivera discovered Baker’s live-in girlfriend in winter 2024-25, ended the relationship, and expressed fears of his hostile reaction to colleagues. In February 2025, she sought reassignment citing his prior reckless conduct and personal safety concerns, but CPD denied her request.
Ignored Warnings from Rivera and Supervisors
At least two CPD supervisors knew of the romantic relationship, its 2025 end, and Rivera’s belief that Baker threatened her safety. She told higher-ups Baker was reckless and demanded an end to their partnership. Late May 2025, Rivera ended things for good, yet they remained partners. On June 4, Baker showed up uninvited at her home. Attorneys argue these ignored warnings made her death foreseeable, underscoring failures in partner assignment policies under CPD’s federal consent decree for reforms.
The nine-count wrongful-death suit, filed December 11, 2025 in Cook County by Yolanda Rivera, names Baker and the City of Chicago as defendants. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages for negligent retention, assignment, and policy failures. Yolanda states Krystal accepted job risks but never feared her own partner, demanding real accountability and change. City spokespeople decline comment due to litigation.
Family of slain Chicago officer sues city, says department ignored warnings about dangerous partner https://t.co/I11PFxenGv #newyork #feedly
— Music World 360 (@MusicWorld360x) December 12, 2025
Broader Implications for Police Accountability
This case fits Chicago’s pattern of suits alleging CPD ignored warnings about dangerous officers, now focused on officer-on-officer tragedy amid gun violence concerns in Chatham. It questions handling of internal romantic relationships, domestic-violence protocols, and early-warning systems for repeat offenders. Short-term, expect scrutiny on records release and financial exposure. Long-term, potential reforms to transfers, flagging violent complaints, and restricting armed duties post-allegations, prioritizing officer safety and common-sense oversight.
Sources:
Romanucci & Blandin press release: “Romanucci & Blandin files Wrongful Death lawsuit against City of Chicago and Chicago Police partner who shot Officer Krystal Rivera”
“Family of slain Chicago officer sues city, says department ignored warnings about dangerous partner” (Police1 coverage)
“Where is justice for Krystal? Mom of cop asks after suing Chicago Police Department, partner who shot her” (Illinois Answers Project)
