Every year, Federal Way police make a concerted sweep of the city, checking that all 217 registered sex offenders are in the right place.

Since 2008, the additional money needed for this large operation has come from a grant from King County. That funding is now secured with a grant for $34,956.88 — ensuring the yearly sex offender check-in will take place 2011.

“What this will do is enable us to verify the addresses and residences of sex and kidnapping offenders in Federal Way. What this money will do is enable us to enforce, apprehend and prosecute offenders,” Police Chief Brian Wilson said at the Federal Way City Council’s Aug. 2 meeting. “It also gives us a great deal of intelligence as to where our sex and kidnapping offenders are located in the city.”

Wilson said the grant helps create a noticeable presence of police for both offenders and residents in Federal Way.

“This will improve the quality of life for our citizens. It will increase immediate face-to-face contacts with registered sex and kidnapping offenders,” he said.

Wilson briefly touched on the breakdown of offenders within the city, saying there are 188 “Level One” offenders, 21 “Level Two” offenders and 8 “Level Three” offenders. Level one indicates the least likely to reoffend, and therefore the least dangerous of these individuals. Level three is considered the most likely to reoffend and the most dangerous to the community. The city checks on level one offenders once a year, level two offenders twice a year and level three offenders every three months.

Outside of those numbers, Wilson touched briefly on the 19 transient registered sex offenders living in the city. Wilson assured council members and citizens that the offenders are subject to a rigorous check-in procedure from King County.

“They’re required to report downtown to King County weekly,” he said.

Wilson recommended the acceptance of this grant, and the council unanimously agreed.