WESTMINSTER

The Police Department’s domestic violence unit was honored recently with an award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Assn. of Counties. The Joint Center Sustainable Community Award honors the best collaborations between counties and cities on projects to improve neighborhoods. Westminster beat out 15 other national finalists in the mid-size community category. The department’s Family Protection Unit combines detectives with a deputy district attorney, a social worker and a battered women’s shelter specialist to help fight domestic violence.