Omaha Schools Ask Cops to Stop Using Electric Shock Gloves on Students

Two Omaha high school students were subdued with electric shock gloves by school resource officers during the 2025-2026 school year, prompting the school district to ask police to stop using the devices on campus. The incidents have sparked outrage among parents and students who say schools should be safe spaces, not places where children are electrocuted.

What happened with the shock gloves in Omaha schools?

In the first incident, a student was identified as trespassing at a school he did not attend. When he tried to flee, an officer applied a two-second shock to his wrist to detain him, according to an Omaha police statement viewed by NPR.

The second student was enrolled in Omaha Public Schools' Integrated Learning Program, a specialized program for students with social, emotional, behavioral and learning deficits. After the student made verbal threats and threw a chair at a security guard, officers delivered two consecutive shocks, one lasting one second and another lasting two to three seconds, to immobilize him.

School district pleads with police to stop using the gloves

Omaha Superintendent Matthew Ray has asked the city police department to stop using the electrocution gloves against students. Omaha police agreed not to deploy the devices in schools anymore, though they call the gloves their safest use-of-force option.

However, the suburban Bellevue police department, which patrols two Omaha schools and the larger Bellevue district, said its officers will continue carrying the gloves.

“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,” Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary said in a statement.

Three other large school districts in the metro area with Omaha school resource officers assigned to their buildings have not taken action to stop police from using the devices. Ray said he only learned about the gloves last week, but local station KETV reported that police had informed school administrators about the devices as far back as 2023.

Parents and students speak out against the devices

The district's request came after outraged parents and students voiced their concerns at a recent school board meeting.

“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,” Nora Wessel, a senior at Omaha Central High School, said. “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.”

What are the shock gloves and how do they work?

The devices, manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC, are called “Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter,” or G.L.O.V.E. They deliver a painful electric shock meant to immobilize a person at the touch of a button. Officers are expected to give a warning before using the gloves and can touch a person for up to 15 seconds while delivering the shock, according to a statement from the mayor and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.

The gloves must touch bare skin to produce voltage that causes pain. Unlike stun guns, they do not leave burn or contact marks. Omaha police paid about $66,000 for 40 gloves in 2025, according to the contract.

As recently as 2022, Compliant Technologies marketed the gloves as a “weapon.” In recent years, they have shifted to calling them “conductive distraction and de-escalation” devices.

Critics call the gloves 'inherently abusive'

Experts and advocacy groups have raised serious concerns about the devices. Yumna Rizvi, senior policy analyst at the Center for Victims of Torture, called the gloves “inherently abusive equipment that facilitates torture” with “no legitimate law enforcement purpose.”

A recent report by the ACLU of Iowa found that school police are increasingly used to enforce classroom discipline for minor infractions like vaping and disrespectful conduct, rather than deterring criminal activity. The report also found that Black and disabled students are disproportionately cited and arrested by school cops.

What does this mean for Iowa schools?

While these incidents occurred in Nebraska, the ACLU of Iowa's findings suggest similar concerns could apply to school resource officer programs in Iowa. Parents and community members should ask their local school districts whether officers carry shock gloves and what policies govern their use on students.

Federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have also shown interest in acquiring thousands of these devices, raising broader questions about their use in public spaces.

Frequently asked questions about electric shock gloves in schools

Are electric shock gloves legal in schools?

There is no federal law banning the use of electric shock gloves in schools. Local police departments decide whether to deploy them. In Omaha, police have agreed to stop using them in schools, but the Bellevue police department continues to carry them.

Do shock gloves leave marks on students?

Unlike stun guns, the gloves do not leave burn or contact marks because they must touch bare skin directly to deliver the shock.

How much do the shock gloves cost?

Omaha police paid approximately $66,000 for 40 gloves in 2025, or about $1,650 per glove.

What should parents do if they are concerned about shock gloves in their child's school?

Parents should contact their local school district and police department to ask whether school resource officers carry shock gloves and request a copy of the use-of-force policy governing them.