Missoula's County Commissioners purchased the Walla Walla University social work building on Mullan Road on Tuesday to house part of the county sheriff's department. 

The county approved spending roughly $2 million of its cash reserve funds to secure the building at 2415 Mullan Road.

"There have been (sheriff) space issues for so long, and I thought it would be decades before we ever dealt with it, but this came along so soon," Commissioner Juanita Vero said. 

The new sheriff's office will be used for detective operations and administrative staff. The space will operate across the street from the county detention center, making the site ideal for a purchase, according to county chief administrative officer Chris Lounsbury.

"Since the detention center was built, we have been looking for a way to collocate the sheriff and the detention staff," Lounsbury said.

More than 100 people are employed by the detention center, while the sheriff's office employs roughly 60 deputies. 

He said the sheriff's civil services and bailiff duties around the county courthouse will stay put. The relocation will allow pretrial services and youth district court to move into the courthouse, Lounsbury said. 

The county attempted to purchase the site in 2019, according to Lounsbury. At the time, the site was used for a probation and parole center, but was then sold to the Walla Walla University. The school listed the property for sale this spring. The building will be remodeled for use by the sheriff's office and should be online in early 2025.