Chicago police failed to place troubled cop under strict supervision before he fatally shot partner
<p>Chicago police Officer Carlos Baker was referred to a program for troubled cops just weeks before he fatally shot his partner, Krystal Rivera, according to records obtained by the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>Once in the program, Baker could have been placed under strict supervision or even been fired if he didn’t improve.</p><p>But Baker, who had a history of disciplinary complaints, wasn't enrolled in the Chicago Police Department’s Personnel Concerns Program before the shooting. That's because a police supervisor didn't respond to an internal email about the referral.</p><p>So Baker kept working his normal job with the department's Gresham District tactical team, aggressively targeting gangs, drugs and guns in a part of the South Side with a high rate of violent crime.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Chicago police Officer Carlos Baker was referred to a program for troubled cops just weeks before he fatally shot his partner, Krystal Rivera, according to records obtained by the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>Once in the program, Baker could have been placed under strict supervision or even been fired if he didn’t improve.</p><p>But Baker, who had a history of disciplinary complaints, wasn't enrolled in the Chicago Police Department’s Personnel Concerns Program before the shooting. That's because a police supervisor didn't respond to an internal email about the referral.</p><p>So Baker kept working his normal job with the department's Gresham District tactical team, aggressively targeting gangs, drugs and guns in a part of the South Side with a high rate of violent crime. </p><p>Then, last summer, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/06/05/chicago-police-officer-shot-cpd-crime-shooting" target="_blank" >Baker fatally shot Rivera</a> as they chased a suspect into an apartment building, a shooting that police officials have said was unintentional.</p><p>Baker’s assignment to the tactical team and his work alongside Rivera are now the subjects of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/12/10/krystal-rivera-carlos-baker-chicago-police-department-wrongful-death-lawsuit" target="_blank" >a lawsuit her family filed</a> against Baker and the city of Chicago. In the suit, they say Baker should have been <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/12/11/krystal-rivera-carlos-baker-chicago-police-department-wrongful-death-lawsuit" target="_blank" >kicked off the police department</a> years ago, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/06/27/krystal-rivera-carlos-baker-chicago-police-department-gresham-district-police-discipline-copa-civilian-office-police-accountability" target="_blank" >pointing to a disciplinary record</a> that includes complaints dating to when he was a probationary officer with few union protections.</p><p>The family’s attorney, Antonio Romanucci, says Rivera is dead because the department failed to discipline Baker.</p><p>“The new information reflecting clear internal CPD concerns about Carlos Baker's fitness for duty is part of a somber and growing string of evidence reinforcing what we've said from the beginning: that he should never have been allowed to be an officer, wear a badge and carry a service weapon,” Romanucci says.</p><p>Police officials didn’t respond to questions.
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- <p>Chicago police Officer Carlos Baker was referred to a program for troubled cops just weeks before he fatally shot his partner, Krystal Rivera, according to records obtained by the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>Once in the program, Baker could have been placed under strict supervision or even been fired if he didn’t improve.</p><p>But Baker, who had a history of disciplinary complaints, wasn't enrolled in the Chicago Police Department’s Personnel Concerns Program before the shooting. That's because a police supervisor didn't respond to an internal email about the referral.</p><p>So Baker kept working his normal job with the department's Gresham District tactical team, aggressively targeting gangs, drugs and guns in a part of the South Side with a high rate of violent crime.
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Chicago police failed to place troubled cop under strict supervision before he fatally shot partner
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