Harbour Bridge teddy-bear rescuer convicted

In 2007 McDermott saved a teddy-bear from the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Thinkstock

A police staff member who made headlines for saving a teddy bear on the Auckland Harbour Bridge has been convicted of careless driving.

Colin Wayne McDermott, 55, is a motorway support officer based at the Harbour Bridge Police Station.

After a defended hearing on Monday, he was convicted of careless driving regarding an incident in Auckland on May 12. He was remanded for sentencing to January 23.

The Herald on Sunday applied to the Auckland District Court to view the file on Tuesday.

Court staff responded to the application on Friday saying the file had been mislaid after the court hearing.

Waitemata police spokesman Kev Loughlin said police would not comment on the case until McDermott had been sentenced. "Police do not comment at any time on employment-related matters nor do we provide additional comment on cases that are still before court," he said.

Neither would Loughlin comment on the role of motorway support officers, who are non-sworn staff, and whether the role included driving duties.

McDermott said he was not allowed to talk to the media about the case.

In 2007, McDermott saved a teddy bear named Amanda, the North Shore Times reported.

Two-year-old Rosa Jonas lost Amanda out of the window of her mother Nicki's car as they were driving over the bridge. They went to the bridge police station and were told, "We'll send our best men".

McDermott and traffic constable Darren Russell drove two patrol cars on to the bridge and slowed traffic to look for the bear. McDermott found it and was rewarded with a big cuddle from Rosa.