Omaha Public Schools (OPS) formally asked the city’s mayor and police chief to prohibit school resource officers (SROs) from carrying electric shock gloves on school grounds. The request, submitted on Tuesday, was driven by concerns voiced by parents, students, and district officials that the devices could undermine the trusted relationship between law‑enforcement and the district’s 52,000 students.

District’s request and rationale

In a letter addressed to Mayor John Ewing Jr. and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, OPS emphasized that the health, safety and well‑being of its students are the district’s top priority. While acknowledging the long‑standing partnership with the Omaha Police Department and the valuable role SROs play in schools, the district described the use of shock gloves as “counterproductive” to that relationship. OPS asked that the change be implemented immediately.

Community response

During a recent Board of Education meeting, parents and students openly opposed the deployment of the gloves. Board member Gini Magnuson, who is also a parent in the district, stated she does not support any use of force or pain‑compliance tools—including pepper spray, tasers, or electric shock gloves—against students. Several board members agreed that policy adjustments were needed.

Police department’s position

Chief Schmaderer responded by praising the work of SROs and affirming the strong partnership with OPS. He noted that some community members have made “erroneous assumptions” about the officers’ duties. While the department said it would honor the district’s request to cease using the gloves on school property, it confirmed that SROs will continue to carry standard equipment such as tasers, OC spray, batons and firearms.

Mayor’s comments

Mayor Ewing, a co‑founder of the city’s SRO program, reiterated his belief in the importance of police presence in schools for deterrence and safety. He explained that the city had reached out to all four Omaha public‑school superintendents to discuss the technology, noting that the gloves had been identified as the least impactful tool. After OPS opted out, the mayor said the city would respect that decision and continue to listen to the district’s needs.

Broader context

The controversy comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced plans to spend up to $20 million on devices called G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Critics fear the technology could be misused as a punishment tool. In Omaha, the police department previously announced that SROs would be equipped with the gloves in middle and high schools.

Other Nebraska districts—Elkhorn, Millard, Westside and Bellevue—have also reported that their SROs were either equipped with or informed about the gloves. Westside Community Schools and Millard Public Schools both confirmed that the gloves have not been deployed in their schools. Bellevue’s superintendent, Matthew Ray, made a similar request to Bellevue police, who place SROs at one middle and one high school.

Next steps

OPS has asked that the prohibition take effect immediately. The Omaha Police Department has indicated it will comply with the district’s request while maintaining other standard‑issue equipment for SROs. The situation highlights ongoing local debate over the balance between school safety, law‑enforcement tools, and parental concerns about the use of pain‑compliance devices in educational settings.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.