{
  "id": 3802097,
  "title": "Police Are Spending Opioid Settlement Funds on Flock Cameras",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/police-are-spending-opioid-settlement-funds-on-flock-cameras",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T19:20:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/police-opioid-funding-flock-alpr-camera-surveillance-tech/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over a dozen U.S. law enforcement agencies have used opioid settlement money to buy Flock cameras and AI-powered license plate readers (ALPRs), according to an investigation by Mother Jones. These settlement funds began flowing in 2022 after pharmaceutical companies resolved thousands of lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. States and localities secured over $50 billion in funds over 18 years from manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies accused of fueling the epidemic. Public health advocates hoped the settlements would provide resources for underserved communities affected by opioid addiction. However, local officials are being criticized for using the money for policing instead of addiction prevention, recovery, treatment, and harm reduction services. While some law enforcement agencies spent the funds on Tasers, firearm silencers, and drones, at least twelve sheriffs' offices and police departments have spent their opioid funds on Flock cameras since 2024. Another seven agencies used the money to purchase ALPR technology from competitors Motorola, Axon, and Verkada. The cameras were justified as a way to catch drug traffickers and reduce drug-related crimes. However, experts argue that this type of spending doesn't effectively address addiction. In Sunnyside, Washington, city officials approved spending $24,000 on a Flock security trailer to monitor a strip mall where drug use was complained about by nearby business owners. Similarly, in Ohio County, West Virginia, county commissioners approved spending $57,900 on six Flock ALPRs, hoping the cameras could \"help track drugs coming into our area.\" Critics argue that these expenditures do not honor the spirit of the opioid settlements and divert resources away from crucial addiction services.",
  "summary": "More than a dozen local law enforcement agencies across the country have used opioid settlement money to procure Flock cameras and other AI-powered automated license plate readers (ALPRs), an investigation by Mother Jones has found. Settlement funds began flowing to states and localities in 2022, after major pharmaceutical companies agreed to resolve thousands of lawsuits […]",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. law enforcement agencies used opioid settlement money for Flock cameras",
    "Twelve sheriff offices and police departments spent funds on cameras since 2024",
    "Critics argue spending does not address addiction effectively"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}