DECATUR, Ga. (AP) – DeKalb County police are beefing up their firepower to keep from being outgunned by gangs and drug traffickers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the DeKalb County Commission last week approved the purchase of 1,200 Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handguns to replace the force’s Berettas. The move comes as criminals have upgraded from pistols to assault rifles and other military-style firearms.

Like officers across the country, most in the metro area carry .40-caliber handguns. Some forces, like DeKalb, are giving officers the option to carry higher-powered weapons once they’re trained.

DeKalb police Chief William OÂ’Brien said the department’s Berettas were outdated and could not compete with criminals carrying high-powered weapons.

Source: WTVM Columbus, GA