Bellevue Police Reject OPS Request to Remove Shock Gloves from Schools

Key points

• Bellevue Police will continue equipping school resource officers (SROs) with G.L.O.V.E. shock gloves at Bryan Middle and High Schools, defying an OPS request.
• OPS Superintendent Matthew Ray stated the district considers the gloves counterproductive, but Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary called them a safe, less-harmful alternative to tasers or batons.
• Omaha Police agreed to remove the gloves from SROs in other OPS schools, but Bellevue Police declined, creating a split in enforcement policy across the district.
• The G.L.O.V.E. emits up to 380 volts, roughly one-fourth of a taser, and has been used by Bellevue officers for over three years.
• National attention on the gloves increased after ICE announced plans to purchase $20 million worth of the equipment, prompting local community backlash.

Background

This dispute follows earlier reports that Omaha Public Schools sought to ban shock gloves after learning of their use in schools. The controversy gained national traction when the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to equip ICE agents with the same technology. Previous coverage noted that Omaha Police agreed to remove the gloves from most OPS schools, but the issue remained unresolved in Bellevue. The gloves, manufactured by Compliant Technologies, have been used in law enforcement for years, but their deployment in schools has drawn criticism from parents and civil rights groups.

How outlets are covering it

WOWT and KETV highlight the conflict between OPS and Bellevue Police, noting that OPS Superintendent Matthew Ray was unaware of the gloves' use until recently, while KETV obtained emails showing OPS leadership was notified in 2023. KETV emphasizes a communication breakdown, with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer defending his department's transparency. Mother Jones and Nebraska Public Media focus on the broader national context, linking local school use to ICE's procurement plans and highlighting parental concerns about safety and consent. Mother Jones notes that 29 of 34 Omaha SROs are trained in the gloves, while Nebraska Public Media reports on community opposition at school board meetings. Bellevue Police, via WOWT, argue the gloves are a necessary, low-harm tool for de-escalation in schools, contrasting with OPS's view that they are counterproductive.

Why it matters

The decision by Bellevue Police to retain shock gloves in schools highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and educational institutions over the use of force in school settings. It also reflects broader national debates about the deployment of non-lethal weapons in public spaces, particularly as federal agencies like ICE adopt similar technologies. The split in policy between Omaha and Bellevue Police may influence other districts and could lead to further scrutiny of police-school partnerships.

What to watch

OPS and Bellevue Police will continue to monitor the situation and engage in dialogue, according to both parties. Other local districts, including Westside and Millard Public Schools, are evaluating the use of shock gloves and may make decisions in the coming weeks. National attention on the technology may also prompt further policy reviews or public hearings.