Chicago Officer’s Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The family of a Chicago police officer, who was tragically shot and killed by her partner during a chase earlier this year, has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit. They contend that the police department ignored numerous indications that this officer was a threat to her safety.

The lawsuit, brought forth by Officer Cristal Rivera’s mother, asserts that the Chicago Police Department continued to assign Officer Carlos Baker to work with Rivera despite being aware of his history of reckless and violent behavior. Rivera, who was 36, died on June 5 while attempting to apprehend an armed suspect.

According to the lawsuit, Rivera had voiced her concerns about Baker’s conduct to her superiors. She had also ended a complicated two-year romantic relationship with him shortly before the incident. The complaint mentions multiple past complaints about Baker, including an allegation from a former girlfriend who claimed that he threatened her with a gun in a bar.

Rivera’s mother, Yolanda, expressed that her daughter should never have felt threatened by fellow officers. “Crystal understood the dangers of this job,” she said. “She accepted the risks that come with police work. The last thing she should have feared was her partner. Crystal lost her life because of that betrayal.”

As the complaint details, Rivera and Baker pursued a driver suspected of carrying a weapon, which led to a chase that ended outside an apartment complex. Baker kicked down a door and fired at the suspect, inadvertently hitting Rivera in the back.

Attorney Antonio Romanucci, representing the family, stated that Baker fled the scene after the shooting without providing any help or calling for assistance. “He didn’t even attempt the most basic first aid… Baker left Crystal on the floor, literally gasping for breath. Crystal radioed in to report her own shooting,” Romanucci noted.

The lawsuit also claims that the department provided misleading information in reports to state regulators, suggesting that the shots were fired by the suspect and not Baker.

Romanucci highlighted Baker’s troubling disciplinary record, stating he had faced 11 misconduct charges over three years. An incident from 2022, where Baker allegedly brandished a firearm at his ex-girlfriend in a bar, is still under review by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, with no conclusion reached yet.

Having joined the Chicago Police Department in 2021, Rivera was partnered with Baker in early 2023. Their relationship began romantically but after some time and concerning behavior from Baker, Rivera requested a new partner. Her request was approved, yet they were reassigned together when she moved to the tactical team later. After discovering that Baker had a live-in girlfriend, Rivera permanently ended their relationship, voicing her fears of Baker’s possible violent responses.

Romanucci argued that Baker should never have remained on the force. “He should never have made it past his probationary period. He was not qualified to police our community, much less wear a gun in the name of the law,” he stated. “The decision to keep Carlos Baker on the force had deadly consequences.”

Although the Cook County State’s Attorney previously chose not to prosecute Baker, Rivera’s family is hopeful that new evidence from the lawsuit might prompt reconsideration.

Described by her colleagues as a dedicated officer, Rivera was in her fourth year with the department.