Omaha Schools Halt Use of Electric Shock Gloves by Campus Police

Police officers assigned to Omaha's largest public school district will no longer carry electric shock gloves, following a request from the district's superintendent. The decision comes just days before the start of the new school year and after a public meeting where the devices drew sharp criticism.

Superintendent Matthew Ray asked on Tuesday that school resource officers stop using the gloves, which deliver a painful electric shock. In a letter to the school community, Ray said he only became aware of the devices the previous week. The district's first day of school was Wednesday.

The Omaha Police Department had demonstrated the gloves at a news conference last week, describing them as a tool that could achieve compliance with minimal force. Police confirmed the devices were used twice during the 2025-2026 school year. The decision to halt their use in middle and high schools followed an investigation that revealed federal immigration authorities had planned to issue similar gloves to their officers.

The devices, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), have also been used in some jails in recent years. It is unclear if any other school district has adopted them.

At a school board meeting on Monday, roughly 30 people spoke against the use of the gloves, with no one speaking in favor. Students and board members expressed alarm at the practice. One senior at Omaha Central High School said the idea of seeing a peer electrocuted in a place meant to be safe was unthinkable, adding that such weapons create a barrier between students and the officers meant to protect them.

Ray acknowledged the district's long-standing relationship with law enforcement and the role officers play in school safety, but said continued use of the gloves would be counterproductive. Mayor John Ewing Jr. confirmed that police have honored the district's decision to opt out. Officers will continue to carry tasers, batons, OC spray, and firearms.

Most of the department's 34 school resource officers had been trained to use the gloves. Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and the mayor defended the devices as the safest use-of-force option in rare situations. The city paid about $66,000 for 40 gloves from manufacturer Compliant Technologies LLC in 2025.

Officers were required to give a warning before using the gloves and could apply the shock for up to 15 seconds. The gloves must touch bare skin to deliver the voltage, and unlike Tasers, they do not leave marks. One incident this school year involved an officer using the glove to stop a high school student from fleeing after a fight with a security guard.

Omaha Public Schools is Nebraska's largest district, serving more than 50,000 students.