Omaha Police to Cease Use of Shock Gloves in Schools

The Omaha Police Department has agreed to stop using gloves capable of delivering electric shocks in Nebraska’s largest public school district. The decision impacts most middle and high schools in Omaha. The move follows a report by The Associated Press that Immigration and Customs Enforcement planned to provide officers with the gloves, known as G.L.O.V.E.s, or Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters. These devices have also seen use in some jails in recent years.

Superintendent Matthew Ray of Omaha expressed concerns and requested that school resource officers refrain from using these gloves in schools. As a result, the police complied with this request. However, Bellevue police, overseeing two Omaha schools and the larger Bellevue district, intend to continue using the gloves. Other major school districts in the area have not yet decided to prohibit their use. Attempts to reach authorities from the Millard, Elkhorn, and Westside districts for comments were made by the Associated Press.

Amanda Oliver, spokeswoman for Bellevue schools, stated their district maintains good communication with Bellevue police and does not see the need for any changes. Ray mentioned that he learned about the glove use recently, despite a local television station, KETV, finding emails from 2023 indicating departments had been notified earlier about officers being equipped with these gloves.

The Omaha Police Department organized a demonstration to explain how the gloves assist officers in controlling individuals who resist commands. In two instances during the 2025-2026 school year, these gloves were used by Omaha police, while Bellevue police have used them twice in prior years.

We’ve got a great communication and dialogue that we have with them consistently. And so for us right now, no changes are being made, said Oliver.

Opposition to these devices arose at a recent Omaha school board meeting, where about 30 individuals, including residents and board members, voiced their displeasure. High school senior Nora Wessel expressed her distress over the possibility of witnessing fellow students being subjected to electric shocks.

Ken Trump, President of National School Safety and Security Services, emphasized the need for careful discussions about this technology. Issues include how school officers would handle students with disabilities, informing parents, and guidelines for glove use.

Ray underscored the importance of relationships with law enforcement in ensuring school safety, highlighting that the continued use of gloves might hinder cooperation. Mayor John Ewing Jr. confirmed that the police department respected the school’s decision to discontinue their use.

The Omaha Police Department continues to carry other tools such as tasers, batons, OC spray, and firearms. Most of their 34 school resource officers were trained to use the gloves, which were seen as a safe use-of-force option.

In 2025, Omaha police agreed to a $66,000 contract with Compliant Technologies LLC for 40 gloves. They require direct skin contact to administer an electric shock, causing pain to stop resistance without leaving marks, unlike Tasers.

Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary defended the use of these gloves, describing them as safe and effective. An Omaha officer used the glove to prevent a student escape attempt and to subdue a student exhibiting aggressive behavior last school year. Bellevue police did not provide specific instances of glove use but noted their deterrent effect.

Omaha Public Schools, the largest district in Nebraska, serves more than 50,000 students. The other districts in the metropolitan area are also among the state’s largest.