Fallen CPD officer remembered for courage and compassion by loved ones and colleagues

CHICAGO (WGN) — As the community mourns the loss of Officer Krystal Rivera, her friends and colleagues are sharing more about how they’re honoring her memory.

Rivera, four-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was killed after another officer unintentionally shot her during a call on the city’s South Side Thursday night.

Her friends say she embodied what it meant to protect and serve the community, and she did it with great pride.

“Just a sad, heavy day for Chicago,” Pastor Donovan Price said.

Rivera was a mother, daughter, friend to many and a protector to countless strangers. She served on the 6^Th District Tactical Team, working to make the streets of Chicago safer.

“There’s nothing like walking into a room and having to deliver this type of message to her mother and her very young daughter,” CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said.

Rivera’s brothers and sisters in blue say she was an exceptional officer but her greatest pride in life was her daughter. This weekend, she would have celebrated her daughter’s birthday.

Full of courage and compassion both on and off the job, she devoted her life to helping others.

“That was one of the things her mother said, she loved her job,” Snelling said.

After becoming a police officer in 2021, Rivera’s friends say she carried out her responsibilities with great pride. They remember her for her contagious laugh, her smile and her fierce loyalty to those around her.

A longtime friend shared photos from when they were younger, saying Rivera always treated her like she was her little sister and always made her feel safe. The two both eventually became police officers.

“You hear a lot of people badmouthing officers, but you have no idea what those officers go through every day on and off duty,” Benita Betts, retired CPD officer, said.

Betts served the city for over 20 years. She brought food and drinks by the 6^th District on Friday to say thank you and recognize that the job doesn’t stop even in the wake of great tragedy.

“My son used to be on the officer’s TAC team. They worked together, so I just wanted to come out and show my support,” Betts said.

At an event for peace at nearby St. Sabina Church, the weight of this loss was heavy on the minds of city leadership and local clergy.

“We should understand any place in this city where a child is shot and killed, where a police officer is shot and killed, where anybody is shot. It’s a city that should be caring. A city should be mourning. It’s not about race or creed or neighborhood,” Rev. Michael Pfleger said.

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is also offering support. In a statement, its executive director wrote in part:

“She represented everything we want our police officers to be: smart, assertive, tough, compassionate and professional. Krystal greeted each tour of duty with zeal and enthusiasm and worked every day to make Chatham and our city safer.”

The foundation says they are praying for Rivera’s family and promise to support her daughter in the days, weeks and years to come.

Volunteers with Light the Line are also offering their support. Earlier they placed blue ribbons on poles and trees in honor of the officer.