Oklahoma County commissioners approved a contract with a nationwide vendor to manage off-duty assignments for county law-enforcement officers, a move staff said carries no direct cost to the county and addresses liability gaps identified in prior arrangements.

Staff said the vendor—proposed under a Sourcewell cooperative contract—would act as the intermediary when outside entities (for example, private businesses) hire off-duty deputies for security. The vendor collects fees from the hiring entity and, according to staff, provides general liability coverage ($1,000,000 per occurrence; $5,000,000 aggregate) that helps address ambiguity about liability when deputies are working off duty.

The contract assigns governing law and venue to the state of Oklahoma and its courts; staff noted the original vendor-language venue (Texas) was changed to Oklahoma. Commissioners asked whether the county district attorney's office had reviewed the contract; staff said the DA had not yet reviewed it but that the contract is on a national Sourcewell cooperative agreement and that county purchasing verified the contract remains valid under that cooperative vehicle. One commissioner said they prefer the DA review contracts they vote to approve.

After discussion about timing, liability and venue, the board approved the contract by motion.

The agreement was described on the record as not costing the county money but providing insurance and contractual language to reduce exposure; staff said defense obligations between a deputy and the vendor would be subject to separate agreements (for example, with the deputy's union or association).