Ellison seeks transgender training for local law enforcement

Rep. Keith Ellison called on the U.S. Department of Justice this week to train Twin Cities law enforcement on the best methods to interact and build trust with the transgender community.

Ellison wrote in a letter to the department Tuesday that transgender leaders recently alerted him to discrimination by law enforcement against transgender people. The same leaders also criticized policies like "misgendering" within prison facilities.

"Following a robust discussion, a consensus emerged that many transgender people are concerned about their interactions with law enforcement officials," Ellison said in his letter to Community Relations Service Director Grande Lum.

The letter did not specify precisely how local law enforcement has dicriminated against transgendered people. A call to one of the activists who participated in the discussion was not immediately returned.

Specifically, Ellison sought the training for the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. He said both agencies are supportive of the effort.

Lum's department announced in March that it would offer transgender training for law enforcement across the country.

Read the letter here.