In a move that will surely surprise absolutely no one, Omaha police have agreed to stop using electric shock gloves on students in Nebraska's largest public school district. The decision, which affects most Omaha middle and high schools, comes after the Associated Press revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had plans to equip officers with these 'Gloves' - officially known as 'generated low output voltage emitters.' Because what says 'safe learning environment' better than a device that delivers a jolt of electricity?
Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Ray, on 18 August, formally requested that school resource officers stop using the gloves. Two days later, Omaha police complied. But the suburban Bellevue police department, which patrols two Omaha schools and the large Bellevue district, said its officers will continue carrying the gloves. Because nothing says 'we value our students' like doubling down on a questionable tool.
Three other large school districts in the metro area - Millard, Elkhorn, and Westside - have yet to take any action, despite being patrolled by Omaha officers. The AP left messages seeking comment, presumably to ask, 'What exactly is taking you so long?'
Bellevue schools spokesperson Amanda Oliver defended the decision, saying, '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.' Translation: We're perfectly fine with the status quo, thank you very much.
Ray said he only learned about the gloves the previous week, but local TV station KETV found emails from 2023 showing that Omaha police had notified the districts of their plans. An official with the Omaha district said they were already familiar with the gloves because Bellevue police had them at two Omaha schools. So much for the element of surprise.
Before halting their use, Omaha police held a news conference where an officer demonstrated how the gloves can quickly control someone who refuses commands. Because what could possibly go wrong with that in a school setting? Omaha police used the gloves twice during the 2025-26 school year, and Bellevue police have used them twice in previous years.
At a school board meeting, about 30 people spoke out against the gloves, with residents and board members alike expressing their horror. No one spoke in favor. Nora Wessel, a senior at Omaha Central High School, captured the sentiment perfectly: 'I can't even imagine walking down the hallway and seeing a peer of mine being electrocuted in a place that is supposed to be a safe space for students. Yet, this is now a very real possibility. These are adults we are supposed to be able to trust, but these weapons create a barrier for our students to turn to resource officers when needed.'
Ken Trump, president of the consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, wisely noted, 'Less than lethal doesn't mean low risk.' He suggested schools should carefully consider how officers will respond to students with disabilities or special medical needs, how parents will be informed, and under what circumstances the gloves can be used. You know, basic common sense.
Ray acknowledged the longstanding relationships with law enforcement and the important role of school resource officers, but said continued use of the gloves 'would be counterproductive to our work together.' Omaha's mayor, John Ewing Jr, said the department has honored the district's decision to 'opt out.' Omaha police will continue to carry stun guns, batons, pepper spray, and firearms - because apparently those are all fine.
Most of the Omaha police department's 34 school resource officers had been trained and allowed to use the gloves, according to Mayor Ewing and Police Chief Todd Schmaderer. Their statement insisted, 'We believe it is the safest use-of-force option in the rare times when it is used.'
In 2025, Omaha police agreed to pay Compliant Technologies LLC about $66,000 for 40 gloves. Officers were expected to give a warning before using the gloves, then touch the person for up to 15 seconds while delivering the shock. Because 15 seconds of electric shock is totally a reasonable response to a student misbehaving.
Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary defended his officers' continued use of the gloves, saying, 'I am not comfortable having our officers give up a tool that has repeatedly proven to be safe, effective and less harmful than the alternatives.' He added that the devices have been around for more than three years and sometimes make students cooperate on sight - even without shocking them. So it's a deterrent too, apparently.
The gloves activate when an officer presses a button, and they must touch skin directly to produce voltage that causes pain. Unlike stun guns, they don't leave burn or contact marks, which is presumably a selling point.
In the 2025-26 school year, an Omaha officer used the glove to stop a high school student from another school from trying to escape after fighting with a security guard. In a second case, the glove was used on a student at the Omaha district's integrated learning center for special education students, after the student made verbal threats and threw a chair at a guard, striking the guard in the head, and also punched the guard. Bellevue police didn't immediately have details on their uses.
Omaha Public Schools is Nebraska's largest district, serving more than 50,000 students. The metro area's other districts are also among the biggest in the state. So, in summary: one district says no more zapping, another says keep the zapping, and three others are apparently still deciding whether zapping students is a good idea. Stay classy, Nebraska.