Washington Township, New Jersey, Faces Questions Over Opioid Settlement Spending on Police Equipment

Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, is facing questions over how it used money from national opioid settlements. Media reports alleged the municipality spent funds on police surveillance cameras and expensive police vehicles instead of drug prevention programs.

The controversy matters because opioid settlement money is meant to help communities address addiction, overdoses, treatment needs and related harms. New Jersey law and the settlement agreements restrict how local governments may use it.

But the official records tell a more complicated story than the headline alone suggests. Washington Township’s fiscal-year 2024 report listed $134,321.38 for a police department “Drug Education” program, and its fiscal-year 2025 report recorded $36,125.32 in spending. Together, that is $170,446.70, the same figure media coverage describes as reported drug-education spending. The coverage alleges matching amounts were instead used to buy two 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe police SUVs and Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras. The state’s fiscal-year 2026 report says the township had not submitted a report.

The official records reviewed do not independently itemize the camera and SUV purchases. Whether those purchases happened as alleged, and whether they complied with the rules, requires municipal purchasing records and any state review. These are allegations, not findings.

This is a public-spending issue, not a consumer settlement. There is no claim form, no individual payout, no claim deadline and no opt-out or objection period for residents.

Quick Facts: Washington Township Opioid Settlement Spending

Detail	What official records and reporting show
Municipality	Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Funding source	National opioid settlement payments distributed to state and local governments
Reported controversy	Reports allege opioid funds paid for police SUVs and Flock surveillance cameras
Fiscal-year 2024 spending	$134,321.38 reported for a “Drug Education” program run by the police department
Fiscal-year 2025 spending	$36,125.32 reported as expended
Combined reported spending	$170,446.70
Reported SUV and camera spending	Some accounts put total spending on SUVs and cameras at about $267,924.50 from November 2024 to April 2026 (unverified)
Fiscal-year 2026 report	The state’s published report says “No Report Received” for Washington Township
Governing law	New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund law, N.J.S.A. 26:2G-39 to -43 (P.L. 2023, c. 25), and the national settlement agreements
Court case	None specifically challenging these purchases was verified
Official settlement website	None for residents. State reports are published on the NJ opioid funds website.
Claim form link	None. No consumer claim form or individual payout exists.
Claim deadline	None
Where to report suspected misuse	New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, opioid settlement funds, email [email protected], tel. 1-855-OSC-TIPS (672-8477)
Official reports	NJ opioid abatement reports

What Do New Jersey’s Official Records Say?

New Jersey requires local governments that receive opioid settlement funds to report their receipts, spending and funded programs. The state publishes those reports. For Washington Township they show:

Reporting period	Officially reported information
Fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)	$284,521.25 received; $134,321.38 expended
Fiscal year 2024 program	“Drug Education,” administered by the Washington Township Police Department, described as school-based narcotics education
Fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)	$83,438.67 received; $36,125.32 expended
Fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026)	“No Report Received”

The fiscal-year 2025 headline figures do not by themselves identify every purchase. The 2026 “No Report Received” entry does not mean the township spent money improperly, and it may reflect reporting timing. It means the published state record has no report for that period.

Why it matters: Official reporting supports the conclusion that the township reported spending opioid money on a drug education program in fiscal year 2024. It does not establish whether the camera and vehicle purchases occurred, what they cost or whether they were allowed. It also does not support a blanket claim that the township reported no drug-education spending.

How the National Opioid Settlements Work in New Jersey

New Jersey receives money from national settlements resolving claims against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. Reported totals put New Jersey’s share at roughly $1.1 billion, paid over about 15 to 18 years, through roughly 2038 to 2040. Settlements include the distributor agreement with McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen and agreements with Johnson & Johnson and other companies.

The money is divided between the state and participating local governments under New Jersey’s 2022 agreement with local governments and the state’s 2023 Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund law. The settlement terms include lists of approved “opioid remediation” uses. The funds go to governments for opioid-related programs. They are not direct payments to individual residents.

Broader reporting by NJ.com found that dozens of New Jersey towns spent about $2.3 million on items such as vehicles, cameras and concerts, with limited state enforcement reported so far. State lawmakers have called for an Attorney General review. These are reported concerns, not legal findings.

Related article: L’Oréal and Revlon Face Talc and Mesothelioma Questions, FDA Warning, Lawsuits and What Consumers Should Know

What Can Opioid Settlement Money Be Used For?

The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller says the funds must be used for opioid remediation: programs designed to address opioid misuse, treat or mitigate opioid use disorder, or reduce related harms. Approved uses include:

• Treatment for opioid use disorder
• Recovery services and support for people and families affected by addiction
• Education and prevention programs
• Harm-reduction strategies aimed at preventing overdose deaths
• Connections to treatment and support services
• Appropriate training and support for first responders
• Evidence-based or evidence-informed programs addressing opioid-related harms

New Jersey’s rules also require the funds to supplement, not replace, money governments would otherwise spend on approved programs. They are meant to be an additional resource, not a general fund for unrelated municipal expenses.

Which New Jersey Laws Matter Here?

• Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund law (N.J.S.A. 26:2G-39 to -43; P.L. 2023, c. 25): sets up the fund, the allowed uses and the reporting framework.
• Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.): governs how municipalities buy goods and services, including bidding thresholds and quotes. It is the main law that would apply to a police vehicle or camera contract.
• Local Budget Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq.): governs how municipalities budget and account for money, overseen by the Division of Local Government Services.
• Open Public Records Act, OPRA (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.): gives the public a right to government records. A records custodian generally must respond within seven business days of a request.
• Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.): requires most governing-body business to be done in public, so resolutions approving expenditures appear in meeting records.
• Office of the State Comptroller (N.J.S.A. 52:15C-1 et seq.): the state’s independent oversight body for government spending and the office that takes tips.
• State Attorney General: can enforce the settlement terms and state law.

Are Flock Cameras and Police SUVs Allowed Under the Rules?

The records reviewed contain no blanket rule saying every police-related purchase is automatically allowed or prohibited. The question is whether a particular expenditure meets the opioid-remediation requirements and is supported by the program’s purpose and evidence.

Equipment used directly in a documented overdose-prevention or treatment-diversion program could raise different questions from general-purpose surveillance cameras or vehicles bought for ordinary policing. A town cannot make a purchase permissible simply by calling it opioid-related. It must show how it meets the rules. At the same time, buying police equipment does not by itself prove settlement funds were misused. A reliable conclusion needs the purchase records, the township’s explanation and a review under the applicable rules.

What Does New Jersey Require Local Governments to Report?

Local governments must submit annual reports to the Department of Human Services detailing money received, approved programs and expenditures, and the state publishes them. These reports let residents compare a town’s stated goals with the programs it says it funded. To test whether other purchases came from the same fund, a reviewer would compare the annual report with the township’s budget, resolutions, procurement records and invoices.

How to Report Suspected Misuse of Opioid Funds

You do not need to be part of a lawsuit or have lost money to report a concern. The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller accepts tips about suspected fraud, waste or abuse involving opioid settlement funds, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-855-OSC-TIPS (672-8477).

A useful report names the municipality, the expenditure and amount if known, and why you think it may not comply with the rules. Attach supporting records such as meeting minutes, contracts, invoices or official spending reports. A tip does not guarantee an investigation or a finding of a violation.

What Records Should Residents Request?

Washington Township residents can file an OPRA request for records about the opioid settlement fund, including:

1. Purchase orders and invoices for the reported SUVs and Flock cameras
2. Resolutions and meeting minutes approving the expenditures
3. Contracts and vendor proposals describing the equipment, services and costs
4. Funding-source records showing whether opioid money paid for all or part of a purchase
5. Program justifications explaining how the spending addresses opioid-related harms
6. Annual reports and supporting schedules submitted to the Department of Human Services
7. Bid or quote records showing how the contracts were awarded under the Local Public Contracts Law

If the records show a purchase unrelated to opioid remediation, residents can give the evidence to the state oversight agency. The final assessment depends on the records and applicable law.

Is There a Lawsuit or Claim Form?

No. The national opioid settlements provide money to governments, so how a municipality uses its allocation is a public-accountability issue, not a settlement that pays residents. No court case challenging these purchases was verified, though that does not rule out a later review or litigation. U.S. residents outside the township with no taxpayer interest have no individual claim arising from this issue.

For help with addiction, use New Jersey’s official substance-use services portals or the national SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For related coverage of how opioid settlement money is allocated, see our article on the Purdue Pharma and Sackler $7.4 billion opioid settlement, including Missouri’s and Illinois’ shares.

Key Dates

Date or period	Event
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024	Fiscal-year 2024; the township reported $134,321.38 in expenditures
July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025	Fiscal-year 2025; the township reported $36,125.32 in expenditures
November 2024 to April 2026	Period in which some reports say about $267,924.50 went to SUVs and cameras (unverified)
July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026	Fiscal-year 2026; the state’s report shows “No Report Received”
October 9, 2026	Media coverage renewed attention to the spending

No claim deadline, objection deadline or opt-out date applies. The key next steps are verifying the purchases and any state review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Washington Township spend opioid settlement money on Flock cameras and police SUVs?

Media reports allege so. The state reports reviewed do not itemize those purchases, so their number, cost and funding source need confirmation from municipal purchasing records.

Did the township spend nothing on drug education?

No. The state’s fiscal-year 2024 report shows $134,321.38 for a school-based Drug Education program run by the police department, and the fiscal-year 2025 report shows $36,125.32 in spending.

How much opioid money did the township report spending?

$134,321.38 for fiscal year 2024 and $36,125.32 for fiscal year 2025, or $170,446.70 in total. These figures do not establish the cost of the reported equipment.

Can New Jersey towns use opioid settlement money for law enforcement?

Some law-enforcement-related activities may qualify when directly connected to approved remediation purposes. Whether a specific vehicle or camera qualifies depends on its purpose, the supporting evidence and the settlement rules.

Can residents receive a payout?

No. No individual payout or consumer claim program exists. Residents can request records and report concerns, but that does not guarantee a refund, investigation or recovery.

How can I check whether the township reported its spending?

Review the annual reports on the New Jersey opioid funds website, and request the township’s purchase orders, contracts, invoices and resolutions through OPRA.

What does “No Report Received” mean?

It means the state’s published report has no submission from the township for fiscal year 2026. It does not establish that money was misspent, and it may reflect timing.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal information website, not a law firm. Allegations reported in the media are not findings of wrongdoing. Official records verify the township’s reported receipts and expenditures and its stated Drug Education program, but not the reported camera and SUV purchases. Verify current information with the township and state oversight agencies.

About the author: Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher at AllAboutLawyer.com. Coverage focuses on court filings, official government announcements, settlement documents and legal developments affecting consumers and communities.

Sources

1. New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, Opioid Settlement Funds. https://www.nj.gov/comptroller/resources/opioidsetfunds.shtml
2. New Jersey Department of Human Services, 2024 Gloucester County Opioid Abatement Report. https://www.nj.gov/opioidfunds/documents/reports/2024-counties/2024Gloucester%20County.pdf
3. New Jersey Department of Human Services, 2025 Gloucester County Opioid Abatement Report. https://www.nj.gov/opioidfunds/documents/reports/2025-counties/2025Gloucester%20County.pdf
4. New Jersey Department of Human Services, 2026 Gloucester County Opioid Abatement Report. https://www.nj.gov/opioidfunds/documents/reports/2026-counties/FY26%20Gloucester%20County.pdf
5. New Jersey Opioid Settlements, Frequently Asked Questions. https://nj.gov/opioidfunds/faqs/
6. New Jersey P.L. 2023, c. 25 (Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund). https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2022/PL23/25_.HTM
7. Reporting by NJ.com and the New York Post on Washington Township’s opioid settlement spending, October 2026.
8. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. (Open Public Records Act). https://www.nj.gov/grc/
9. N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq. (Local Public Contracts Law) and N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq. (Local Budget Law). https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dlgs/
10. N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. (Open Public Meetings Act) and N.J.S.A. 52:15C-1 et seq. (Office of the State Comptroller). https://pub.njleg.gov/
11. SAMHSA National Helpline. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, Legal Content Researcher at AllAboutLawyer.com.

Last updated: October 10, 2026