MORTUARY AFFAIRS IGA.DOCX

Maricopa County — Formal (2018-02-07)

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INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
MARICOPA COUNTY
AND
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
1. PARTIES
This Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is between Maricopa County (MC) on
behalf of the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office (the ME’s Office)
and the U.S. Department of the Air Force, by and through the 56th Fighter
Wing/56th Medical Group (USAF) located at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale,
Arizona. MC is authorized to enter into this IGA pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-952.
USAF is authorized to enter into this IGA pursuant to AFI 34-501, Mortuary
Affairs Program, para. 1.6.20.
2. DURATION
This IGA shall be in effect upon its approval and execution by MC and USAF
and shall continue in effect until terminated earlier pursuant to the provisions of
Paragraph 8 of this IGA. This IGA shall automatically be renewed on an annual
basis (July 1 through June 30) through June 30, 2022 with all provisions of this
IGA remaining in full force and effect, until renegotiated or terminated in
accordance with the provisions of this IGA.
3. PURPOSE
The purpose of this IGA is to memorialize the understanding and agreement
between MC and USAF with regard to the investigation of deaths of known
USAF personnel and other known person’s on-base and off-base, and the
handling of the remains thereafter, within the geographical boundaries of
Maricopa County, Arizona.

4. GENERAL INFORMATION
USAF is responsible under federal law for the disposal and care of the remains,
personal effects and property of certain deceased personnel within the
jurisdiction of Maricopa County for the purpose of fulfilling its responsibility
under Title 10 U.S.C. Section 1481, which provides in relevant part that USAF
has jurisdiction over the disposition and care of the remains of all active duty
USAF Members.
Within the geographical boundaries of Maricopa County, Arizona, the ME’s
Office has primary authority and responsibility for investigating deaths of active
duty and non-active duty USAF personnel which occur off-base.
When the ME’s Office or USAF conducts an autopsy on persons within the scope
of this IGA, the ME’s Office and USAF will promptly provide a copy of the
autopsy report to the other to the extent authorized by and not prohibited by
Arizona or federal law.
When USAF expresses an interest in writing in the cause and/or manner of death
of a specific person or persons within the scope of this IGA, the ME’s Office, in
its sole discretion, may invite USAF to observe the examination and/or
participate in subsequent roundtable discussions of the forensic evidence and will
fully cooperate with USAF to the extent authorized by and not prohibited by
Arizona or federal law.
Copies of Reports of Investigation (ROI) over which USAF exercises control and
which do not contain privileged information not generally releasable will be
forwarded to the ME’s Office upon request in compliance with applicable
regulations and in coordination with the releasing organization.
When the ME’s Office assumes jurisdiction of a decedent or decedents within the
scope of this IGA, the ME’s Office will provide all reasonably available
information upon written request by USAF to assist USAF Mortuary Services in
completing its paperwork.
If the ME’s Office is unable to positively identify the remains of a decedent or
decedents within the scope of this IGA, the ME’s Office will contact the HQ

USAF MA Identification Team and the Armed Forces Pathology Institute for
assistance. The ME’s Office will take all forensically reasonable steps to
preserve the remains pending arrival of USAF identification specialists
5. ON-BASE DEATHS
USAF will immediately notify the ME’s Office of any active duty or non-active
duty death that occurs on-base, pursuant to AFI 34-501 and USAF’s
responsibility for on-base deaths under Title 10 U.S.C. Section 1481. All deaths
occurring on-base must be verified by a licensed healthcare provider (M.D. or
D.O.). Upon receipt of notice, the ME’s Office will transport the remains from
the place of death (or presumed death) to the ME’s Office.
In the event of a mass fatality, USAF Mortuary Services will have the primary
responsibility of transporting the remains to the designated processing location.
If any decedent was non-active duty, USAF will contact the ME’s Office for
notification purposes and disposition instructions.
In the event of an on-base fatality or fatalities involving civilian aircraft, USAF
will immediately notify the ME’s Office and will undertake the search for,
recovery and identification of the remains and will provide security until the
investigation is completed.
6. OFF-BASE DEATHS
In the event of an active duty death off-base and within the geographical
boundaries of Maricopa County, Arizona, the ME’s Office will exercise
jurisdiction and will take control over the remains.
The ME’s Office will notify the base Mortuary Officer of any death occurring
off-base and within the geographical boundaries of Maricopa County, Arizona,
involving active duty members, reserve members on active duty or performing
inactive duty training, their dependants and civil service employees on
temporary duty in the area, if such status is known. In that event, the remains
will not be released to a funeral home and the base Mortuary Officer will assume
custody of the remains in accordance with USAF procedures within 24 hours of
the completion of the examination by the ME’s Office. The ME’s Office will
release to USAF the personal effects of the decedent or decedents upon or as
soon as reasonably possible after the transfer of custody of the remains to USAF.

USAF shall provide the ME’s Office with a telephone number and contact
person available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for the purpose of the
ME’s Office’s notification obligation in this paragraph, and for the purpose of
providing that contact information to the next-of-kin to discuss with USAF any
and all funeral home arrangements.
In the event of an off-base fatality or fatalities involving military personnel and
civilian aircraft within the geographical boundaries of Maricopa County,
Arizona, USAF may provide upon request by the ME’s Office all reasonably
available assistance with the search for, recovery and identification of the
decedent or decedents.
7. USAF AIRCRAFT CRASHES
In the event of a crash of a United States Air Force aircraft, whether on a military
installation or outside of a military installation, the United States Air Force will
receive immediate custody of the remains of all flight crew, which includes the
right to investigate and perform necessary autopsies on the flight crew. The
Mortuary Officer will monitor all operations concerning the search and recovery
of remains as well as their identification.
8. TERMINATION
The ME’s Office and USAF may terminate this IGA upon thirty (30) days
written notice to each other, with or without cause, in the sole discretion of the
ME’s Office and USAF. Notice to the ME’s Office shall be directed to the
attention of: Dr. Jeffrey Johnston, Chief Medical Examiner/Director (or his
successor), Forensic Science Center, 701 W. Jefferson, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.
Notice to USAF shall be directed to the attention of: Maritzel G. Castrellon,
Major, Mortuary Officer (or his successor), 56th Fighter Wing, c/o Public Affairs
Office, 14185 W. Falcon Street, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona 85309.
9. LIABILITY
This IGA shall in not be construed as creating, nullifying, or in any way affecting
either party’s right to make any civil claim against the other under any applicable
law or regulation. This IGA does not create an obligation that either party

defend, indemnify, or hold harmless the other party or any officer, agent,
volunteer, insurer, attorney, or employee of the other party.
9. AMENDMENTS
This IGA shall not, and cannot, be amended or altered in any way without the
prior written consent of MC and USAF.
10. EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER
This IGA is not intended to constitute, create, give rise to, or otherwise recognize
a joint venture agreement, partnership or other form of formal business
association or organization of any kind, and the rights, duties and obligations of
MC and USAF under this IGA shall be only those expressly set forth in this IGA.
11. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS
MC and USAF shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations,
ordinances, standards, codes and executive orders of any city, state, or federal
government, whether or not specifically set forth in this IGA throughout the
duration of this IGA. MC specifically affirms its compliance, and the
compliance of its contractors or subcontractors, with any applicable city, state,
or federal law, rule, regulation, ordinance, standard, code, or executive order
related to immigration or business operations in Sudan or Iran. USAF
specifically affirms its compliance, and the compliance of its contractors or
subcontractors, with any applicable federal law, rule, regulation, ordinance,
standard, code, or executive order related to immigration or business operations
in Sudan or Iran, and with any such city or state law, rule, regulation, ordinance,
standard, code, or executive order to which it is subject under federal law.

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF FOR AND ON BEHALF OF
MARICOPA COUNTY: USAF:
__________________________ _________________________
Steve Chucri Joseph A. Sellers, Maj, USAF
Chairman, Board of Supervisors Mortuary Officer, Luke AFB
ATTEST:
_________________________
Clerk of the Board
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-201, this IGA has been reviewed by the undersigned attorney
for MC, who has determined that this IGA is in proper form and is within the powers
and authority granted under the laws of the State of Arizona to MC.
DATED this ______ day of _____________, 2017.
By____________________________
Steven C. Goodrich
Deputy County Attorney