OPS superintendent asks city, police to stop use of electric shock gloves

Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Ray sent letters to Omaha and Bellevue city and police officials requesting school resource officers stop using electric shock gloves in OPS buildings "immediately."

“Nothing is more important than the health, safety and well-being of every student we serve,” Ray wrote in a message to staff, families and students. “Nothing.”

The request comes after parents, students and community members condemned use of the gloves at the OPS board meeting Monday night. Several board members also spoke against school resource officers being equipped with the gloves.

The use of the electric shock gloves, officially called G.L.O.V.E., came to light last week from an NPR news story. Since then, Omaha Mayor John Ewing and Police Chief Todd Schmaderer shared there were two instances of the gloves being used in Omaha schools. The first was to stop a high school student who was trespassing at Omaha South High School, and the second was on a student in OPS’ Integrated Learning Program who had thrown a chair at a guard and punched the guard.

Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., who is a former deputy police chief, said in a statement that OPD will honor the school district's request.

"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," Ewing said.

"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." 

Ewing went on to say that the city values its relationship with Omaha-area school districts and will continue "to listen and respond to their needs."

Omaha Public Schools welcomes students back this week, with Wednesday being the first day of school for kindergartners and entry level grades at middle and high schools.