In addition to the incident at the bar, Baker faced other complaints during his probationary period. One complaint alleged that he failed to arrest a home invader on his first shift working the street. Another complaint accused him of flashing a gun at a woman he met online while she was on a date with another man at a North Side bar. Despite these complaints, Baker faced no disciplinary action at the time.
His record of complaints is considered unusual among Chicago police officers. Only 5% of Chicago police officers had six or more misconduct complaints from 2018 through 2023, according to data from the Invisible Institute.
Despite his history of complaints, Baker was later assigned to the Gresham District tactical team, a group of officers who aggressively work to remove guns and drugs from the streets and investigate crime patterns in Gresham, Chatham, and other South Side neighborhoods.
On the night of June 5, Baker and his partner, Officer Krystal Rivera, were working together when they encountered two armed men in an apartment filled with guns and drugs. During the confrontation, Baker accidentally shot and killed Rivera when one of the men pointed a gun at him. Two men have been charged in connection with the incident.
Following department policy, officers involved in shootings are placed on routine administrative duties for at least 30 days. Rivera’s death marked the first time a Chicago police officer had been killed by “friendly fire” in nearly 40 years.
Recent events involving the Gresham District tactical team have drawn attention to the unit. In April, it was reported that the team oversaw a botched police gun buyback at St. Sabina Church in December 2023. One of the weapons turned in during the buyback was later stolen from a room filled with officers at the tactical team office and used in subsequent shootings.
The accidental shooting of Officer Rivera and the subsequent gun theft have raised concerns about the Chicago Police Department’s tactical teams and the supervision of officers within these units. Some officers have criticized how supervisors staff, oversee, and deploy these teams.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding his career, Baker’s attorney, Tim Grace, described Officer Rivera’s death as a tragic accident and emphasized the dangers of law enforcement work. Grace stated that Baker is heartbroken over the incident and will privately process his grief.
A history of complaints
Prior to joining the police department, Baker was a wide receiver at Southern Utah University. During his probationary period as a police officer, he gained attention for viral TikTok videos showing him dancing in uniform at a music festival and participating in online trends using a police radio.
One of the incidents that led to a complaint against Baker involved him flashing a gun at a woman he met on Instagram while she was on a date at a bar. The woman reported that Baker showed up unannounced, confronted her, and revealed a gun tucked into his waistband.
Despite facing multiple complaints during his probationary period, Baker did not face disciplinary action and was eventually assigned to the Gresham District tactical team.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, questions remain about Baker’s past conduct, the supervision of tactical teams within the Chicago Police Department, and the overall safety and accountability of law enforcement officers in the city.
Officer Krystal Rivera’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the risks and challenges faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. As the community mourns her loss, it also calls for a thorough examination of the policies and practices that govern police conduct and accountability in Chicago.
