Omaha's largest public school district stops officers from using electric shock gloves

Omaha’s largest public school district has stopped law enforcement officers from using gloves that deliver electric shocks in their work policing students (AP) — Police officers at Omaha’s largest public school district will no longer use gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks, after the superintendent asked to halt the program this week, the mayor said. Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Ray requested Tuesday that police assigned to the schools, known as school resource officers, no longer use the gloves.

Ray said in a letter to the public schools community that he’d only learned about the gloves the previous week. The first day of school was Wednesday. The Omaha Police Department held a news conference last week in which it demonstrated the glove, saying it quickly achieved compliance and control with little to no force.

The gloves were used twice during the 2025-2026 school year, police said. The decision to stop using the gloves in middle and high schools came after an Associated Press investigation revealed Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s plan to give officers these gloves, which are known as G.L.O.V.E. or Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter.

The devices have also been used in recent years by some jails. It was not immediately known if other school districts have used the gloves. Residents and school board members speak out against the gloves At a school board meeting Monday night, about 30 people spoke out against police using the gloves.

Residents and board members alike said they were appalled at the practice. “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,” said Nora Wessel, a senior at Omaha Central High School. “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.” Ray said the district recognized long-standing relationships with law enforcement partners and the important role school resource officers have in promoting school safety. Continued use of the gloves “would be counterproductive to our work together,” Ray said. said police have honored the school district’s decision to “opt out.” The Omaha Police Department said officers will continue to carry tasers, batons, OC spray and firearms.