Omaha police have agreed to stop carrying gloves that deliver electric shocks within Nebraska’s largest public school district. This decision impacts most Omaha middle and high schools. The change follows an Associated Press report about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s initiative to supply officers with these gloves, known as Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters (G.L.O.V.E.s). Previously, some jails also used these devices.
Superintendent Matthew Ray requested that police officers in schools discontinue using the gloves, which Omaha Police accepted. However, the Bellevue police, which covers two Omaha schools and a large district, will continue using them. Three other large school districts in the metro area have not decided to follow Omaha’s lead.
Efforts to get comments from the Millard, Elkhorn, and Westside school districts were unsuccessful. Bellevue schools spokeswoman Amanda Oliver mentioned that their district maintains a positive relationship with Bellevue police, and no changes are planned. Ray stated in a board meeting that he only learned about the gloves recently. However, local station KETV found emails revealing Omaha police had informed districts about the gloves in 2023.
Students in the Omaha area have returned to school recently. In a recent news conference, Omaha police demonstrated the gloves as a quick way to control non-compliant individuals. Omaha officers used the gloves twice during the 2025-2026 school year, and Bellevue police have used them twice before.
Last week’s school board meeting saw about 30 individuals voicing opposition to the gloves. Residents expressed their concerns, emphasizing the negative impact on students’ trust in school resource officers.
Nora Wessel, a senior at Omaha Central High School, pointed out the distressing situation of witnessing peers being shocked in schools, deemed safe spaces. Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, urged discussion about using such technology, especially concerning students with disabilities or special medical needs.
Ray acknowledged the vital partnership with law enforcement and indicated continued gloves use might hinder cooperation. Mayor John Ewing Jr. supported the district’s opt-out decision. The Omaha Police Department stated that officers will maintain other tools, including tasers and batons.
Most of the Omaha Police Department’s 34 school resource officers trained in using the gloves. A contract with Compliant Technologies LLC involved a payment of $66,000 for 40 gloves in 2025. Officers were trained to give warnings before using the gloves, which operate by touching skin directly without leaving burn marks.
Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary affirmed the continued use of the gloves, citing their effectiveness and safety. The gloves activate when an officer presses a button, causing pain to deter resistance.
During the 2025-2026 school year, Omaha officers applied the glove technique in two incidents: one involved a student attempting to escape after a fight, and another involved a student threatening and assaulting a security guard.
The Omaha Public Schools district serves over 50,000 students, making it Nebraska’s largest. The nearby school districts are also among the state’s largest.
Associated Press Writers Ryan J. Foley, Hallie Golden, Hannah Schoenbaum, and Sharon Lurye contributed to this report.