A small New Jersey town once in the throes of the opioid crisis blew through more than $170,000 in settlement funds intended to fight drug addiction — to reportedly purchase pricey police SUVs and surveillance cameras.
Washington Township claimed it shelled out $170,446 on substance abuse initiatives in 2024 and 2025, but instead spent the money on 15 Flock cameras and two 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs, according to NJ.com.
“That’s absolutely egregious,” Sandy Gibson, an addiction specialist at The College of New Jersey, told the outlet.
“But I would hold the state accountable. We’re not auditing?”
Local officials also failed to use any of the money on drug abuse prevention in schools, which the well-documented settlement was intended for, records show.
The spending spree is part of a troubling pattern across the Garden State, where dozens of communities burned through at least $2.3 million in opioid settlement money on lavish purchases — like concerts, branded clothing and even a muscle car, according to an NJ.com probe.
Beginning in 2022, settlement funds from Big Pharma payouts — agreements totaling over $50 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits against major companies tied to the pharmaceutical suppply chain — flowed into municipal coffers to offset the devastating toll the opioid epidemic inflicted on local communities.
The money was supposed to be used for education, prevention and treatment — but several New Jersey towns instead chose to upgraded streets, lighting and even purchased sleek new municipal gear.
Matthew Thomas Rooney, Washington Township solicitor, blamed the prior administration for any questionable purchases.
“The current administration is committed to transparency, and it will continue to review all budgeting priorities, including the best ways to help combat the opioid crisis … and will continue to work with the state on the best path forward,” Rooney told the publication in a statement.
“Nothing is more important to the current administration than keeping the people of Washington Township safe.”
Washington Township ranked among the worst 30% of New Jersey municipalities for addiction per capita during the height of the opioid crisis. In 2019, it recorded 5.78 cases per 1,000 people and 5.36 in 2021.
Gibson was appalled at the township’s inaction.
“I can’t see how there’s been no response or action taken to address that,” Gibson told NJ.com.
“Inaction at the level of the state is permission.”
The township claimed it spent $134,321 on a middle school “narcotics and education” program in 2024, followed by another $36,125 in 2025 earmarked for “early prevention.”
“These folks … they’re responsible for our tax dollars,” said resident Joe Junfola.
“To the extent that they get grants, such as the opioid funds, they’re tasked with using that money responsibly.”
Former Mayor Laurie Burns, a Democrat, slammed the town’s current Republican leadership for playing politics — and trying to “wash their hands” of the controversy.
“It’s a joke that the Washington Township’s Republican Mayor and Council would now try to wash their hands of decisions they made and point the finger elsewhere,” she wrote in an email.
“They did it, and they have a responsibility to answer for it now.”
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