The Dearborn Police Department leads the region in handicap parking enforcement issuing nearly 6,000 citations between 2009-2011, according to a Detroit Free Press investigation on parking problems encountered by people who are disabled in southeast Michigan.

“I’m proud to say that the Free Press took note of what we’ve known all along: The Dearborn Police Department leads the region in ticketing those who deprive people who are disabled of the parking they need,” said Police Chief Ronald Haddad in a press release.

The Free Press series examined issues such as handicap parking permit fraud, improperly issued handicap parking permits and, of course, local law enforcement efforts in enforcing handicap parking violations.

According to the Free Press, Dearborn Police issued almost 6,000 citations for either Handicap Parking violations or Fraudulent Use of a Handicap Permit in 2009-2011, the time period examined by Free Press reporters. The total number of citations issued by the Dearborn Police Department was well above the number issued by any other department in the region, excluding Detroit.

“Dearborn Police Patrol Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers and Ordinance Officers will continue to investigate and enforce handicap parking violations and handicap parking permit fraud whenever and wherever possible in addition to their other enforcement duties,” Haddad said. “People who legitimately hold handicap parking permits should know that we do our best to keep open the parking spaces that are designated for their use.”