West Virginia opioid settlement funds spark debate over police training center spending
Jackson County used part of its opioid settlement allocation to build a police shooting range and a training center, prompting local activists to question the priorities.
In 2024 Jackson County, West Virginia, received its initial opioid settlement disbursement and directed a substantial portion to construct a shooting range and the Walter Smittle III Regional Responder Training Center. Sheriff Ross Mellinger presented the complex as essential for law-enforcement response to opioid incidents, noting its occasional use for police and EMT training. Local advocates, including former court reporter Teresa Evans and recovery activist Kelly DeWees, challenged the allocation, urging that the funds be directed toward rehabilitation programs and community support.
Their criticism echoes statewide concerns, as many municipalities have spent settlement money on law-enforcement equipment rather than treatment. The West Virginia First Foundation, which will eventually manage the bulk of the settlement, has begun distributing interest earnings to fund recovery villages and youth initiatives. The debate highlights differing interpretations of the settlement’s purpose and the need for clearer guidance on spending.
