All Krystal Rivera ever wanted was to be a police officer.
Her dream came true in 2021 when she was sworn into the Chicago Police Department. But last week, Rivera was “unintentionally” shot and killed by her partner when they encountered an armed person during a foot pursuit in Chatham.
Earlene Simons, who worked with Rivera for many years, recalled how determined she was to join the police department.
“She worked with me while she was going to school to be a police officer,” said Simons, 70. “That was her dream and she succeeded. I was so proud of her.”
Before joining the department, Rivera worked at a private medical office in Berwyn, but the job was always temporary — becoming a police officer was always Rivera’s goal. “Even on Halloween she would dress up as a police officer,” said Simons.
Hundreds of family, friends and community members gathered at a prayer vigil outside the Gresham District police station, 7808 S. Halsted St., Wednesday afternoon in honor of Rivera and that dream.
“For me, it’s a privilege,” Rivera told the Sun-Times when she graduated from the academy in 2021. “I come from a family of serving. To help people in need, that’s my calling.”
Dozens of Chicago police officers — some in uniform, others in shirts bearing Rivera’s image — stood together as CPD chaplain Rev. Kimberly Lewis-Davis urged them to lean on their faith for strength and healing.
“When we look around this place, we see representation from various families,” she said. “There is the Rivera family, the CPD family and our family in the community. There’s a connection with family — when one grieves, we all grieve.”
Rivera, who was assigned to the Gresham District tactical team, was shot about 9:50 p.m. last Thursday while chasing a person who officers thought was armed into an apartment building in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue, Chicago police said.
Prosecutors on Sunday said Rivera and her partner chased the person into a one-bedroom apartment where they encountered a suspect, Adrian A. Rucker, 25, who was armed with an AR-style rifle, and another person.
Rucker, of Freeport, Illinois, pointed the weapon at the officers, which prosecutors say can be seen on the officers’ body camera footage and surveillance video from inside the apartment.
A different “armed suspect” then jumped over a couch and ran out of the apartment, prosecutors said. Rivera chased him down the hallway, and that’s when her partner unintentionally shot her in the back, they said.
Officers drove Rivera to University of Chicago Medical Center, but she died shortly after arriving.
After the shooting, Rucker ran off but was arrested about 20 minutes later in the 8200 block of South Maryland Avenue, according to police. He was charged with felony counts of armed violence and illegal possession of a gun, drugs and fake IDs.
Police Supt. Larry Snelling told reporters Saturday that the investigation is ongoing and the department is “always” reviewing its practices, including training and supervision, but it’s too soon to tell if any policy changes will stem from the incident.
Jasand Parker, owner of Suite Little Feet — a day care center in Gresham — said he didn’t personally know Rivera but wanted to show his support for the department.
Parker said police officers do their best to keep everyone in the neighborhood safe and was saddened to hear one of them passed away.
“Anytime a police officer is lost, it’s a terrible tragedy for Chicago,” said Parker, 45. “But we can honor [Rivera] by doing our best to better our community. If you see something, say something. That’s the best thing. We’re too quiet in our community. The police can’t do it alone, and that’s why we’re suffering some of these tragedies.”
Simons said Rivera always had a smile on her face and was the kind of person people felt at ease with.
“She was so nice, so kind,” Simons said. “She will be missed.”