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.

Jim Colson was Topeka's city manager and James Brown the city's police chief when the city bought the truck on Aug. 3, 2016.

The Topeka City Council approved the acquisition on Oct. 9, 2016, as part of Colson’s August 2016 city expenditures, according to Topeka Capital-Journal archives.

Hadfield said the vehicle was bought for $426,106.95, of which $208,316.95 was financed through special law enforcement funds and $217,790 from the city's general fund. The police department's special law enforcement funds are money seized through forfeiture.

"The mobile command incident vehicle has not had a lot of use and is expensive to maintain," Hadfield said. "There is a recurring $20,000 annual warranty and frequent mechanical failures that are costly to fix."

An auction listing for the truck — accompanied by a photo of it — was present Tuesday at www.govdeals.com but could no longer be found on that website Thursday.

"The mobile command incident vehicle is being relisted on GovDeals on 12/12/18 with a reserve of $217,790," Hadfield said Thursday.

The "reserve" statement means $217,790 is the minimum amount the city will accept, she said.

Capital-Journal archives show the city bought the vehicle from Nomad Global Communications Solutions.

A Capital-Journal article published in February 2017 indicated the city planned to unveil it publicly, though apparently no such event ever took place.

The article indicated the vehicle was capable of sending real-time video and audio communications back to the city’s Emergency Coordination Center from remote locations during disasters and other incidents.

"The department has owned a similar trailer with meeting room, restroom, computers, TVs and other amenities used as an on-site command center," the article said.