The Vicksburg Police Department is looking to replace its arsenal of nearly 20-year-old guns by the end of the year, Deputy Chief John Dolan says.

“Our weapons need replacing,” Dolan told the Rotary Club Thursday afternoon. “Most law enforcement agencies around the state, on average, change their weapons every 10 years, so we’re a little bit behind.”

The 79-member force has been using Beretta handguns purchased in 1992 and is looking into buying Smith & Wessons or Glocks, he said.

Funds to buy the guns, expected to cost $500 each — about $40,000 total — would come from a trade or sell-off of the department’s arms collection of confiscated and donated weapons, Dolan said.

“We have approximately 1,800 weapons, including rifles, shotguns and pistols — not including our duty weapons — that we are going to trade or sell to a federal firearms dealer,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to buy new weapons for the officers and the (holsters). If we have any excess money, we hope to purchase new off-duty weapons.”

The confiscated weapons have been accumulating since 1979.

“What we get depends on what’s best for us under our circumstances,” said Lt. Davey Barnette, the department’s head firearms instructor.

Barnette, in charge of maintaining firearms, said he believes guns should be replaced every five years.

“Different agencies do things differently,” he said.

He said he has seen the VPD replace guns only once in his 27 years on the force.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have to approve the purchase, and Dolan said he expects it to happen by the end of the year.