В школах Омахи полицейские используют устройство GLOVE: группа защиты детей выражает обеспокоенность

Omaha Police addresses shock glove technology in schools OPD says the device has been deployed twice; a children’s advocacy group raises concerns about its use on students OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Omaha Police Department school resource officers have carried a device called GLOVE — Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter — on their belts at middle and high schools for more than a year. OPD said the device is intended to provide a less-lethal, lower-force option than a Taser or pepper spray when dealing with resistive subjects. How the device works The glove resembles a standard pair of gloves but delivers an electric impulse through gray pads rather than barbs. The level of shock is determined by the user’s grip. “When you have a resistive subject who is unwilling to cooperate or follow commands, whether it’s from school administrators, a teacher, or the officer that’s involved in this situation, we want to ensure that we keep the environment safe. And if force is required to gain control, that we use just enough force to accomplish that task,” said Officer Jason Cvitanov of OPD’s training unit. Cvitanov said the device activates within one second and that officers have observed immediate compliance with minimal contact. “That allows the officers to apply just a mild grip. You don’t even need to squeeze. It’s a mild grip, and then what we’ve seen thus far is immediate compliance. That’s a benefit to everyone involved, because it is such a low level of force being utilized by officers, which is the goal in every situation,” Cvitanov said. Deployment and training After consulting with other metro law enforcement agencies, OPD received approval from Omaha City Council to purchase 40 pairs last May. Of the department’s 34 school resource officers, 29 received training on the device. Individual SROs determine whether use of the glove is necessary in a given situation. The device has been deployed twice in Omaha schools. One incident involved an individual who was not permitted to be on campus. The specific school was not identified. The second incident occurred at a high school. Cvitanov said no injuries were reported in either case and no medical intervention was required. Both uses were reviewed through the officer’s chain of command and OPD’s use-of-force committee. “The officer was trying to get this individual away from the school to leave. The commands were given. There was a refusal. It was a quick touch with the glove. And then the officer was able to secure that individual,” Cvitanov said. “No reported injuries. No overlapping complaints of pain after the utilization.” Bellevue’s experience Bellevue Police Department has used the glove for approximately four years, including by its school resource officers. In a statement, Bellevue Police Capt. John Stuck said the device has a 90% success rate in controlling resistive or combative subjects without additional tools or techniques. “The gloves have proven to be a highly effective tool for our officers, particularly in school settings. To date, there have been zero injuries to either officers or subjects when the gloves have been used,” Stuck said. Advocacy group raises concerns Not all observers support the use of the device in schools. Katie Nungesser of Voices for Children in Nebraska said the rollout is inconsistent with the stated mission of school resource officers. “It’s important to look at the justification for even having these school resource officers in our schools, is that they’re there to protect the kids and facilitate that learning environment. They’re not actually there to police the kids. So seeing this roll out, we just think it’s really inconsistent with that purpose and the mission of what school resource officers are meant to be in Nebraska,” Nungesser said. Nungesser said the device undermines efforts to build relationships between law enforcement and students, and raised questions about the physical and mental health implications for children subjected to its use. “This officer doesn’t have any background on this child’s physical health or mental health. It’s what kind of situation are you saying is happening common enough for us to be using this kind of force on kids in schools? And how does that change that kid forever?” Nungesser said. Voices for Children in Nebraska said it is continuing to look into the matter. OPD said the department is monitoring the effectiveness of the glove and has no current plans to expand its use to other officers. Friday evening, OPD released the following statement: The Omaha Police Department is aware of a recent NPR article referencing OPD as one of several law enforcement agencies and other organizations that have purchased Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.) technology from Compliant Technologies. The G.L.O.V.E. is a less-lethal tool intended to provide officers with an additional option when responding to resistance or a potentially volatile situation. The goal of the technology is to allow officers to effectively deescalate a situation quickly and, when appropriate, lessen the likelihood of injury to both the person involved and the officer. When considering equipment for our School Resource Officers, we wanted a less-lethal option that would use a lower level of force than tools such as a TASER or pepper spray, recognizing the unique environment of a school and the importance of maintaining a safe learning environment for students and staff. The G.L.O.V.E. is currently deployed exclusively with Omaha Police Department School Resource Officers (SROs). OPD has 34 SROs, and 29 are currently trained and authorized to use the G.L.O.V.E. The department’s goal is to have all SROs trained on the technology. OPD SROs are assigned to middle and high schools in the four Omaha school districts. The G.L.O.V.E. is carried by trained SROs in the same manner as other police-specific equipment, such as flashlights, pepper spray and medical equipment. Officers do not wear the G.L.O.V.E. continuously. This prevents unnecessary wear and tear that could cause the equipment to degrade prematurely. The Omaha Police Department understands and respects the concerns that may arise regarding the use of this type of tool in a school environment. Our intent, however, is to provide our officers with the necessary tools, training and resources to keep students, school staff and others safe when responding to situations in our schools. The presence of an SRO in a school is intended to enhance safety, and having appropriate equipment available allows officers to respond to a variety of situations while seeking to minimize the potential for injury. The Omaha Police Department considers any use of the G.L.O.V.E. to be a use-of-force incident. As with other uses of force or responses to resistance, including pepper spray, a TASER, a baton or a firearm, officers are required to document the use and the circumstances surrounding it. Those incidents are then subject to review through the department’s established use-of-force review process. During the 2025-2026 school year, the G.L.O.V.E. was used on two occasions by two SROs. Both incidents were reviewed through the officers’ chain of command and by the OPD Safety Review Board. Both uses were determined to be justified and within OPD policy guidelines. Given the limited number of documented uses, OPD continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the G.L.O.V.E. The department views the technology as an additional tool that, when appropriately used, may help reduce injuries to individuals involved in an incident as well as to officers. Prior to purchasing the technology in May 2025, OPD consulted with other metro-area law enforcement agencies regarding their experience and the potential usefulness of the G.L.O.V.E. Other agencies in the Omaha metro area have provided the technology to officers, including School Resource Officers. At this time, there is no intent on broadening the use of this tool for our other officers. The Omaha Police Department remains committed to providing its officers with appropriate tools and training that support safe, effective and proportionate responses while prioritizing the safety of students, community members and officers. Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.