Sex offenders in Coos County got a little surprise last week. Oregon State Police investigators knocked on their doors during a non-compliance sweep to make sure they’re really living where they say they are.

The sweep focused on Southwest Oregon counties, including Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Klamath, Lane and Curry. The OSP Sex Offender Registration Unit tracks the registration of people convicted of sex crimes who live, work or attend school in Oregon.

Although they will be conducting more door-to-door visits in Coos County to ensure sex offenders are properly registered at current addresses, OSP Detective John Riddle said the Sept. 2 effort did yield some results.

“We just scratched the surface on what needed to be done,” Riddle said.

Troopers requested seven warrants, after they found as many non-predatory offenders no longer living at their registered addresses.

They cited and released one offender who failed to complete his annual registration.

They also warned two offenders for registering too early.

And on the other side, they found some offenders, who the state believed to be out of compliance through the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Database, actually were registered properly.

Riddle explained that all Oregon resident registered sex offenders, adults or teens, are required to report in person to an Oregon law enforcement agency within 10 days of a move and within 10 days of a birthday, along with other reporting requirements.

Riddle said OSP got a late start on the effort in Coos County, because investigators had been unexpectedly called away to assist with a missing woman case at the Cape Blanco State Park near Port Orford. The time constraint meant troopers only searched for about 35 offenders who were listed out of compliance, including two women. The detective said the local sweep will continue later this month.

“(We) just make sure the offenders are holding up their side of the bargain,” Riddle said.

As of July 2009, approximately 16,000 offenders are required to register in Oregon, an OSP press release said. This does not include people who have moved from Oregon to other states, or those in jail.

Prior to the sweep, Criminal Sgt. Bill Fugate of OSP’s Roseburg area command said there are approximately 377 sex offenders living in Coos County, and about 10 percent out of compliance is typical for a sex offender population of this size.

OSP conducted its last Coos County sweep about nine months ago.

He added that the effort involves the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies.

There is zero tolerance for people out-of-compliance. The sweep is considered to be a proactive effort.

“We don’t want to have to burden the criminal justice system, so voluntary compliance is our goal,” Fugate said.

A list of offenders, both on and off supervision, can be obtained by calling the Oregon State Police at (503) 378-3725, ext. 44429; or by e-mailing a request from the Web site at http://www.Sexoffender. Questions@state.or.us.