Nebraska district requests SROs no longer be authorized to carry shock gloves on school grounds
Omaha Public Schools in Nebraska is fighting back after parents and students spoke out against the use of shock gloves in schools.
On Tuesday, OPS wrote a letter to Mayor John Ewing Jr. and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, asking that the school resource officers no longer have authority to carry the shock gloves on school grounds.
“Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of the 52,000 students we serve. We recognize the longstanding relationship between our district and the Omaha Police Department and the valuable role that SROs play in our schools,” said the letter.
OPS called the use of the gloves “counterproductive” to that relationship.
The district requested this change be made immediately.
The outcry from the public and the district comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security saying it is planning to spend up to $20 million to obtain devices known as G.L.O.V.E., which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to a notice first reported by the Associated Press.
The devices have been used by some jails and police departments in the past, but critics are concerned that ICE could abuse the gloves as a punishment tool, as some agents face allegations of excessive force.
Related video below: Electric shock gloves for ICE agents? What we know so far about the plan
Following the letter from OPS, Schmaderer released the following statement:
“I’m proud of the work our School Resource Officers have done, and I’m confident the administration and principals feel the same way. Unfortunately, some have made erroneous assumptions about the work we do. We have a great working relationship with Omaha Public Schools, and they are a wonderful partner to the Omaha Police Department. Our School Resource Officers are passionate about the schools where they serve. More importantly, they value the relationships they build with students and staff and experience overwhelmingly positive interactions with them every day. These relationships are at the heart of what our School Resource Officers do, and they are an important part of keeping our schools safe and fostering a positive learning environment.”
OPD also said that the department will adhere to the request to not use the gloves on school grounds, but officers will still carry the standard-issued equipment, which includes tasers, OC spray, batons, and firearms.
Ewing also responded to the district’s request to opt out of G.L.O.V.E.
“As someone who helped start the School Resource Officer program, I believe in the importance of having Omaha Police Officers in our schools to protect students, faculty and all who enter our school buildings. They have helped deter crime, build positive relationships and provide additional security at a time our schools need it. On Monday, we reached out to all four Omaha public school district superintendents to discuss the use of this technology, noting that officers have a variety of tools and the GLOVE had been the least impactful. OPS was given the option to opt out,and we honored that. We value our relationship with them and will continue to listen and respond to their needs.”
Sister station KETV reports that the Omaha Police Department previously announced that SROs would have shock gloves in metro area middle and high schools.
KETV reports that during Monday night’s OPS Board of Education Meeting, parents and students opposed the use of those shock gloves.
By the end of the meeting, some board members agreed that changes needed to be made.
“As a parent of OPS, and a member of the board with my own opinion, I do not support the use of any use of force or pain compliance with our students, including pepper spray, tasers and electric shock gloves,” OPS School Board member Gini Magnuson said.
OPS is not the only Nebraska school district where OPD is using the shock gloves. The department has confirmed they are using them in Elkhorn, Millard, and Westside public school districts.
In a statement to Omaha’s News Leader and parents, Westside Community Schools stated that “safety and security personnel were made aware of the potential deployment of these tools on March 27, 2025. Our board of education was made aware of them late last week.”
Westside also stated that the gloves have not been used in the district.
Millard Public Schools released a statement on Tuesday:
“Our staff who coordinate with the SRO program were made aware that officers would be trained and start including the gloves in their equipment about a year ago.”
MPS also said the glove has not been used in its district.
Bellevue Public Schools said it does not have a statement regarding the gloves at this time.
Superintendent Matthew Ray made the same request of Bellevue police, who have SROs at one middle school and one high school in the district.
OPS sent the same letter to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, who have SROs within the district. However, DCSO has said publicly that it does not have any gloves.
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The Associated Press and Hearst Television’s Washington News Bureau contributed to this report.
