Groton — A Facebook page created to bring law enforcement together has stirred up a longtime debate over whether to consolidate Groton governments to save money.

The Groton Police Benevolent Association Post #3 created the community Facebook page “1Groton” on Feb. 13, and gained 73 likes in the first week, including from members of the Town Council, Representative Town Meeting and local business owners.

An encircled #1G is the page logo, and the association began selling bumper stickers for $5 on Saturday at a barber shop in Mystic. Proceeds will help provide a scholarship to a graduate of Robert E. Fitch High School pursuing a career in law enforcement.

“1Groton supports the belief that all of Groton should be just that, 1 Groton. A strong community bond that brings all together,” the Facebook page description states.

But the page has stirred debate beyond policing. It is being interpreted as a call to unify the town, and has town leaders questioning whether Groton has too many layers of government, how much they cost, and how much self-rule neighborhoods actually need.

Groton town includes two subdivisions — Groton City and Groton Long Point — both of which have their own police, public works and other departments. The town also encompasses independent fire districts in Mystic, Old Mystic, Poquonnock Bridge, Center Groton, Pleasant Valley and Noank, which elect their own boards and approve their own budgets. Noank also has its own zoning commission.

Town Mayor Bruce Flax said "1Groton" means different things to different people.

“To me, it means that our town is divided up,” he said. “There are three police departments, three publics works departments, two parks and (recreation) departments and I’d much rather see a unified Groton. A town of 40,000 people shouldn’t be that complicated.”

Town Police Officer Stephen McAndrew, vice president of the police association, said the page was created to “strengthen the bond of our law enforcement community to benefit the entire community of Groton.

"Over the past two summers there were successful benefit softball games played between the Groton Town Police and the Groton City Police, which was a great starting point, and a tradition we wish to continue,” he wrote in an email.

The police association was founded in the mid 1940s by the Groton Town Police Department and Groton City Police Department members joined shortly after, he noted. The post also previously awarded scholarships to Fitch graduates and wants to re-establish this, he wrote. McAndrew said he understands "that people are going to interpret (1Groton) in their own ways."

“It means one government to me,” said former City Councilor Jay Dempsey. “It’s ridiculous that we have three police chiefs and three police operations. I think we need to work together, the city and the town need to work together.”

“I’m all for combining a lot of the city and town services and then some of the other subdivision type issues,” said Town Councilor Gil Grim, who lives in the city. “So in my mind, it means working together as a community, and not having the excess (duplication) in some of the services that we have in town.”

Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith said she hasn’t seen the Facebook page and won't comment on people’s interpretations of it.

But speaking in general, consolidating services is more complicated than people realize, she said. While it may have emotional appeal, consolidation has financial and legal consequences, she said.

“Does that mean the town wants to pick up the cost of running the fire districts? Does that mean that the town wants to pick up the cost of running the sewer system? Does that mean the town wants to pick up the cost of running (city) building and zoning? Those are far more complicated issues than having a community identity,” Galbraith said.

On the other hand, discussing regionalization would be valuable, she said. She offered as an example the towns of East Lyme, Montville and Waterford exploring building a regional animal shelter.

Former Town Mayor Jane Dauphinais said she longs for less redundancy in Groton.

“A redundant government in the city is inefficient and costly for taxpayers and our major employers,” she wrote via Facebook messenger. “I suspect that, if merged with town government, city residents could fund fire, sanitation and beach (recreation) functions out of Groton Utility revenue; highway and police would be funded from town taxes and the city mill rate could be all but eliminated.”

Wayne Richard, who owns Wayne’s Barber Shop on Plaza Court in downtown Groton and on Pearl Street in downtown Mystic, said he likes to stay neutral.

He doesn’t see 1Groton as a political issue. "I, for one, pay taxes in both the town and the city, which just seems kind of foolish," he said. "Simplifying would benefit everyone, he believes. He sold five bumper stickers in his Mystic shop on Saturday, and the officers said they'd bring more if he needs them.

“It’s going to work for everyone,” he said. “It’s not like you’re picking sides.”

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim