The underlying assumption of the editorial, "Only in Groton" (Jan. 17), about the police study and the perennial question of joining our three police departments, is that town residents will pay less while expanding town police services. A single state or national police department might also be cheaper than the multitude of local police departments, but is it as effective and is it what we want?

As a town resident who lives in the city, I want what is best and fair for everyone, but I bought a house in the city expecting that I would get more services in exchange for a little more tax. Until the town can demonstrate it will provide as good or better services to the city residents, I will continue to support separate departments.

The questions to ask are: Does the current system work and do we in the boroughs want to keep it? Will the residents who live outside the boroughs pay a higher mill rate to ensure the equal service we would demand? Will residents in the boroughs by effect receive a tax break?

We risk sowing divisions over something that isn't broken and diverting attention from bigger fish that desperately need to be fried.