The police have been without firearms since 2003, when an Australian-led intervention force entered the country to end a long period of civil unrest.
Since then, the police have relied on the regional assistance mission, or RAMSI, to provide armed support when needed.
But with the mission scheduled to leave at the end of June, the police force will have to resume those responsibilities itself.
That remains controversial, as some fear a repeat of the ethnic crisis where police weapons fell into the hands of militants.
