The Orwellian Company Behind ICE’s New Electric Shock Gloves

ICE to Acquire Electric Shock Gloves for Use by Enforcement Officers

In 2022, Assistant Chief Adam Glueck of the Cape Girardeau Police Department in southeastern Missouri purchased electric shock gloves for his officers after learning about them at a trade show. He later stated in a podcast interview that officers had grown attached to the devices. Glueck noted that the gloves allow officers to apply force in situations where visible marks from punches or standard tasers could raise concerns with witnesses or in legal proceedings. He referenced the prevalence of cell phone recordings, saying the gloves produce no burn marks or scars.

The gloves are manufactured by Compliant Technologies and have been acquired by police departments, sheriffs’ offices, jail facilities, and some school resource officers. The device, branded GLOVE for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, resembles a padded black utility glove. Pressing a button on the wrist generates an electric shock upon contact. Company materials describe the product as a Conductive Distraction and De-escalation device intended for compliance situations. Chief Executive Jeff Niklaus has stated in promotional videos that the technology provides a low-visibility option compared with other tools.

Compliant Technologies was established in 2018 by Niklaus, a former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot who served in Afghanistan and Somalia. Niklaus has cited his experience in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu as motivation for developing tools that could limit injuries to both officers and subjects. The company presents the GLOVE as a means to achieve compliance while reducing the need for higher-force options that might produce visible injuries or require escalation.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about electric shock devices. Amnesty International, which campaigns against certain conducted energy weapons, has described products in this category as carrying risks of misuse. A 2025 Amnesty report called for countries to cease use of such devices and referenced documented cases of improper application. Yumna Rizvi, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Victims of Torture, an organization focused on rehabilitation and policy advocacy regarding torture, stated that the gloves constitute inherently abusive equipment. Some departments that have purchased the devices issue guidance restricting use against pregnant individuals, the elderly, or restrained persons. A 2021 user manual notes potential effects including elevated blood pressure and heart rhythm changes and advises against use on individuals with obvious health conditions.

An ICE spokesperson stated that officers receive training in de-escalation tactics and ongoing use-of-force instruction. According to a Department of Homeland Security notice published August 10, the devices are scheduled for delivery to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel by the end of March 2027. The planned acquisition totals $20 million.

Niklaus has discussed the company’s product line, which also includes shock belts and vests recommended for prisoner transport, courtroom settings, and medical procedures involving combative individuals. Company statements emphasize the gloves’ role in providing officers with an intermediate option that may limit escalation.

Several lawsuits have been filed involving the devices. A pending wrongful death case alleges that a 43-year-old man, Jonathan Mansfield, died after receiving 27 shocks from the gloves and 13 from a Taser, with two glove applications exceeding the manufacturer’s 15-second recommended limit. Another suit, reported by the Associated Press, claimed a man with heart conditions was shocked during a demonstration at a Las Vegas trade show. In 2023, an individual incarcerated at Kentucky’s Bullitt County Jail filed suit alleging repeated shocks while handcuffed and shackled; the facility later discontinued use of the gloves.

Law enforcement users have cited the gloves in statements about liability management. Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard described the devices as effective across patrol and jail settings. Nelson County Jailer Justin Hall stated they help mitigate liability. Bob Couey of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department recommended the gloves for situations where traditional force options might lead to legal exposure.

The technology remains unregulated at the federal level for most law enforcement applications. Some departments continue to purchase the gloves, while others have discontinued them following incidents or reviews. ICE’s planned procurement follows the same pattern of acquisition seen in multiple state and local agencies over the past several years.