MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING UNDERGROUND RAILROAD V2 101424-SIGNED.PDF

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 
BETWEEN 
MARICOPA COUNTY, ACTING THROUGH AND ON BEHALF OF 
THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 
AND 
OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, INC. 
 
THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (“MOU”) is entered into by and between Maricopa 
County, acting through and on behalf of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (“MCSO”) and 
Operation Underground Railroad, Inc. a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.  
(O.U.R.), collectively “Parties” and each individually a “Party”. 
 
This MOU is effective November 1, 2024, and will continue until terminated as set 
forth herein.  This MOU is intended to formalize a relationship between MCSO and 
O.U.R. regarding the acceptance, training and certification of an Electronic Storage 
Detection (ESD) dog.  
 
WHEREAS O.U.R., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of 
rescuing children from slavery and delivering them to safe havens that offer 
freedom and rehabilitation. O.U.R. uses technology and human intelligence to send 
its rescue teams to areas of the world to help local law enforcement agencies 
liberate enslaved children and dismantle criminal networks.     
 
WHEREAS MCSO will receive a trained ESD canine and provide an employee to be 
trained and certified as an ESD handler. 
 
NOW THEREFORE, O.U.R AND MCSO mutually understand the following: 
 
I. 
O.U.R. will: 
 
a. Purchase a trained ESD trained canine from Jordan Detection K9 and 
donate it to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.  
b. Pay for initial certifications fees for handler and ESD K9. 
c. Pay for a designated Sheriff’s employee to travel to and from 
Indianapolis, Indiana, lodging and rental vehicle, to participate in a 
two-week initial ESD certification course. 
d. Provide O.U.R. approved gear and equipment for initial certification.  
Such supplies will include a leash, utility type strap/vest, chew toys 
and bowl. 
e. Pay annual recertification fees for the ESD canine. 
  
II. 
SHERIFF will: 
 
a. Designate an employee for a 5-year period to become a certified ESD 
canine handler. 
b. Provide food and medical care for donated ESD canine. 
c. Not deviate from training and certification methods illustrated, taught, 
received, and mandated by staff at Jordan Detection K9. Any deviation 
will result in the loss of canine sponsorship and support from O.U.R.

The canine and handler will also be deemed uncertified by Jordan 
Detections K9 and O.U.R.  
 
III. 
Disclosure of Outcome and Use of Funding 
 
O.U.R. is fully sustained by donors who generously give to help save 
children from being victimized by sexual predators and to identify, rescue 
and heal those who have fallen prey to human trafficking. MCSO 
agreement to receive this support will also require providing O.U.R. with: 
 
a. basic statistics related to survivors helped, suspects arrested, and 
victims identified, or 
b. impact statements detailing how the donation has improved or 
impacted MCSO work related to fight exploitation and aid survivors. 
 
O.U.R. will utilize reports to advise donors how their donations resulted 
in positive outcomes for victims of human trafficking/child exploitation.  
Information provided by MCSO will not be released without MCSO 
consent. 
 
IV. 
Confidential Information 
 
In connection with the above services, the parties may exchange certain 
confidential information with each other.  The term “confidential 
information” shall mean any ideas, strategies, contacts, programs, 
materials, concepts, know-how, data, documentation, processes, books, 
logs, records, reports, etc. which may be furnished or disclosed to MCSO 
by, or acquired by MCSO directly or indirectly from O.U.R., including as 
a result of any verbal disclosure, written disclosure, electronic disclosure 
or inspection of any facility of a Party and which the disclosing Party 
identifies as confidential at the time of disclosure.  For purposes of this 
MOU, confidential information shall not include, and the obligations herein 
shall not apply to, information that: 
a. Was legally in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure to 
receiving Party; 
b. Is now or subsequently becomes generally available to the public 
through no fault of receiving Party; 
c. receiving party can demonstrate was rightfully in its possession 
prior to disclosure to receiving Party by the disclosing Party; 
d. receiving Party rightfully obtains from a third party who has the 
right, without obligation to disclosing Party, to transfer or disclose 
such information; or 
e. is required by law, regulation, rule, act or order of any 
governmental authority or agency to be disclosed by the receiving 
Party.   
 
V. 
Use of Confidential Information 
 
Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, the receiving Party 
agrees not to use any confidential information except as authorized in 
writing by the disclosing Party.

VI. 
Ownership of Confidential Information 
 
The receiving Party acknowledges that the confidential information is and 
shall continue to be the exclusive property of the disclosing Party, 
whether or not disclosed or entrusted to the receiving Party pursuant to 
this MOU.  All documents and other tangible objects containing or 
representing confidential information and all copies thereof which are in 
the possession of receiving Party shall be and remain the property of 
disclosing Party and shall promptly be returned to disclosing Party upon 
disclosing Party request.   
      
VII. 
Amendment 
 
Any amendment to this MOU shall be in writing and signed by both parties. 
 
VIII. 
Termination 
 
This MOU shall continue in effect until the earlier of October 31, 2029, or 
termination by either party by providing not less than 30-day notice in 
writing to the other party.  
 
IX. 
Counterparts 
 
This MOU may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which 
shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute the 
same instrument. Faxed, copied, electronic and scanned signatures are 
acceptable as original signatures.   
 
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be 
executed by their duly authorized representatives on the respective dates entered 
below. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this MOU to be effective November 
1, 2024.   
 
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors  
 
 
Operation Underground Railroad 
 
__________________________________  
 
 
 
 
10-15-2024 
 
 
Jack Sellers, Chairman                    Date 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date 
 
Attest: 
 
 
 
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 
 
__________________________________  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Juanita Garza, Clerk of the Board     Date 
 
 
Russ Skinner, Sheriff  
Date 
 
Approved as to form: 
 
___________________________________ 
Deputy County Attorney                      Date