The University Place Police Department finished moving into the civic and library building this week.

The department had shared space with University Place Fire Department, now West Pierce Fire and Rescue, in the old public safety building across Drexler Drive. The building opened in April 2002.

The fire department had wanted more space in anticipation of the voter-approved merger of Lakewood and University Place fire departments into West Pierce, which began operations earlier this year.

The department had built the building, and city made debt payments so the department could use 3,200 square feet within. In 2009, the fire department agreed to pay about $1 miillion to buy out the city’s stake in the building.

The city then paid $725,000 to renovate 5,000 square feet on the building’s second floor to accommodate the police station.

On Thursday, one deputy jokingly described the department’s spacious work room as the “hard to work room” as he unpacked. Broken-down cardboard boxes littered the floor, and there were numerous items that needed to be stored.

Police Chief Rusty Wilder said the new station offers more room and a sizable conference room, a space that officers had to share with firefighters in the other building.

“It’s a pretty nice space,” he said. “We’re very, very pleased.”

City officials had wanted to house the station in a 6,000-square-foot space to be built next to the library on the building’s ground floor, but construction bids came in too high.

The city could pursue that project in the future, prompting yet another move by the department. Officials have intended to lease a portion of the second floor as office space, City Manager Steve Sugg said, and he expected potential tenants would emerge once the market recovers.

“We got improvements up there that are transferable, that won’t need to be torn out, that make an excellent office space,” he said.

Wilder and Sugg said the department’s arrival is a nice addition to the civic building, and its proximity to the University Place Pierce County Library will promote more interaction between residents and law enforcement.

The department’s hours will open an hour later — 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. — to coincide with library hours, Wilder said. The department closes at 4 p.m. weekdays.

Its new address is 3609 Market Place West, Suite 201.

The city contracts with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office to provide a total of 12 deputies to patrol and respond to calls in the city.

Wilder said residents will be able to check out the new station during an open house. The event hasn’t been scheduled yet but likely will occur in January.

Follow me on Twitter @TNTchill