Chicago police officer Krystal Rivera remembered at funeral as "a hero to everyone here"
The funeral for fallen Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera was held Wednesday afternoon, after she was shot and killed in the line of duty earlier this month.
Rivera, 36, born and raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, was a single mother to a 10-year-old daughter, and had been with the Chicago Police Department for four years and four months before her death. Rivera's job as a police officer was a lifelong dream. She hoped to become a forensic investigator.
Among the speakers giving eulogies at her funeral was Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling, who said that Rivera was "a police officer in every sense of the word" who earned the respect of her fellow officers as a "hard charger."
"It meant that she was powerful. It meant that she had control. It meant that she understood what it took to go out and keep people safe in this city. She represented what was great about great individuals, about great people, about great organizations," Snelling said. "The Chicago Police Department could not be a great organization without the Officer Riveras of the world."
Snelling, who was at the hospital with Rivera's family on the night she died, recalled her 10-year-old daughter, Isabella, asking him, "Was my mom a good police officer?"
"I remember saying to her, 'Your mom was an exemplary police officer. She was magnificent,'" he said. "She was, she is, and she always will be a hero to everyone here. Her name will not be forgotten. She gave everything to help other people. What a noble thing from a noble person."
Rivera was a four-year department veteran and a mother. After her death, Snelling described her as vibrant and fearless, saying she showed up to work every day ready to be bold and work hard and was dedicated to protecting others.
Her commanding officer, 6th District Police Cmdr. Michael Tate, called Rivera "a true leader."
"Krystal would stop me in halls, or come up to my office on the regular and ask, 'Commander, is there anything or anywhere you want us to attack today?' I would jokingly say, 'Krystal, this is the 6th District, pick one,'" Tate said. "And lo and behold, on most days, within an hour, I'd get called down to the tac office, and there Krystal would be, smiling with a weapon or two, along with drugs, illegal car opening devices, and multiple offenders sitting in the processing area. Then she would say, 'Commander, I know it's only 10:30, we'll knock this out, and then we'll get you something else."
Rivera's aunt, Marisa Mercado, prayed for strength as she spoke about her niece and her path to becoming a police officer.
"From early on, it was clear serving and protecting were inherently part of her DNA," she said.
Assigned to the 6th (Gresham) District, Rivera's nickname on the job was "Mama Two." She served with a team that led in weapon recoveries and arrests. Beyond the badge, Rivera was a proud Christian.
"Trust me, Krystal would want me to tell you she brought you to church today," Pastor Choco De Jesus said.
Her best friends shared fond memories of times she was off duty.
"For 22 years, she gave me joy; she gave me comfort, loyalty, laughter, and plenty of tea," longtime friend Jen Topacio said.
"It breaks my heart we won't be picking each other up from the retirement home like we planned," longtime friend Dystany Martinez said.
Perhaps one of Rivera's traits that will be most missed is her sense of humor. Multiple people spoke of her infectious laugh, often accompanied by a snort.
"Just a few days ago, I thought I heard it, and I turned looking for her. It was a child laughing, but in that moment, I felt her," Mercado said.
After the funeral, Snelling handed a folded Chicago flag – the one that had been draped over Rivera's casket – to her grieving mother, and gave a second folded Chicago flag to Rivera's daughter, Isabella, who smiled and clutched the flag to her chest.
Leaders of the Chicago Police Department publicly pledged to watch out for Isabella in the days, weeks, and years to come.
Rivera, 36, was accidentally killed by her partner on June 5 after a foot chase in the city's Chatham neighborhood. Rivera was pursuing a suspect with her partner when investigators said he lost his footing and unintentionally shot and killed her.
The two men they were pursuing are now facing charges.
