Topeka Police auctioning tactical vehicle purchased for more than $425,000

The Topeka Police Department is getting rid of the tactical vehicle it quietly bought two years ago for more than $425,000, saying it experiences frequent mechanical failures that are costly to fix.

“The sale will save the city thousands of dollars in warranty and repair costs,” Molly Hadfield, the city’s media relations coordinator, said Thursday.

She confirmed the city plans to auction the truck at www.govdeals.com.

“City Manager (Brent) Trout and Chief (Bill) Cochran have decided that it is in the city’s best interest to sell the mobile command incident vehicle that was purchased under different city leadership in 2016,” Hadfield said.