(File Photo) Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard speaks in March before the Wood County Commission on Monday to make budget requests for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Sheriff’s Office plans to replace deputies’ service weapons primarily using a contribution from an anonymous donor.

The Wood County Commission voted 3-0 Monday to approve the request from Sheriff Rick Woodyard to appropriate $45,500 from a recent $50,000 donation and provide an additional $28,000 from county funds, to be repaid by proceeds from the sale of the department’s to-be-retired pistols.

“This was a private individual that wanted to donate to us, and … they wanted to remain anonymous,” Woodyard said Monday afternoon.

The department has utilized Glock 21 .45 ACP pistols for nearly two decades, exceeding their recommended service life of 10-15 years, according to a proposal submitted by Woodyard to the commissioners.

“Those guns are starting to age a little bit,” he said.

The department has selected for its new service weapon the Shadow Systems 9-millimeter, which “was chosen for its optimal blend of reliability, performance and value,” the proposal said. Woodyard noted the West Virginia State Police recently selected Shadow Systems as its pistol provider.

The new weapons include enhancements that might otherwise require “expensive aftermarket customization,” including the ability to attach a red-dot sighting system, according to the proposal. Although the county still must go out for bids, the expected cost is $800 per gun for 70 guns, plus $200 apiece for holsters and $50 each for magazine pouches.

Donations like the one the department received will be placed in a newly created fund, similar to the Parkersburg Police Department’s Law Enforcement Support Fund, Woodyard said.

“(From) time to time, we get donations,” he said. With this money, “we’ll be able to make purchases that are outside our budget.”

In other business at Monday’s commission meeting, bids were opened for five Dodge Durangos for the sheriff’s department, two subcompact SUVs for process service and the demolition and cleanup of 4405 Sayre Ave. in Parkersburg, Commission President Blair Couch said. The bids are being reviewed by the appropriate personnel and are expected to be voted on Monday, Dec. 1.

The commission will not meet Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday.