Officer involved in controversial moped crash to be promoted to detective

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- A Providence police officer who was involved in a controversial crash that seriously injured a 24-year-old on a moped, is being promoted on Thursday.

The crash happened on October 18, 2020, at the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Bissell Street, and left Jhamal Gonsalves in a coma.

Officer Kyle Endres is being promoted to detective in the Criminal Investigation Bureau during the 2 p.m. ceremony Thursday.

Endres was driving a police cruiser tailing Gonsalves before he crashed. The department released body camera footage of the incident.

According to Colonel Manni of Rhode Island State Police, the cruiser hit the stop sign, which hit Gonsalves in his helmet.

This conclusion is based on what the crash reenactment revealed.

Attorney General Neronha described what they look for in cases with possible reckless driving based on previous Supreme Court decisions.

These could include a high rate of speed, failure to break, intoxication.

Neronha concluded that the officer involved did not meet high standard of criminal recklessness. He added that though the evidence does not support criminal charges against the officers involved that day, their actions may qualify as negligence.

No officers were criminally charged, following an investigation from the Attorney General’s Office.

Michael Imondi, President of the Providence Fraternal Order of Police, said that what the officer went through was “uncalled for.”

“He does his job, he’s professional, he’s a gentleman,” Imondi said. “He deserves everything he gets on this job.”

ABC6 reached out to the Gonsalves family for comment but have not heard back.