In a perfect world everybody would behave, get along with their families, neighbors and co-workers, drive safely, refrain from illegal drug or excessive alcohol use, and otherwise avoid requiring the intervention of law enforcement authorities.

Lately, though, police seem not only busier than ever but also in the news more often — and not always admirably.

The ongoing battle between New London Police Chief Margaret Ackley and Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio over job performance and sick leave is a minor kerfuffle compared to problems in other departments here and around the country, where current and former officers are accused of crimes ranging from shooting unarmed citizens to burglary, stalking, criminal trespass, harassment, blocking a river channel with a boat, getting into bar fights and urinating on a police station floor. It is important to note that these resulted in arrests, not convictions, but regardless of judicial disposition they represent conduct many perceive as unbecoming an officer.

Such incidents, unfortunately, often overshadow the good work police do in tracking down criminals, maintaining order and protecting the public from miscreants.

The latest example of commendable performance took place Saturday, when New London police set up surveillance near the Congregation Beth El synagogue and arrested a motorcyclist who congregants complained had been shouting anti-Semitic remarks when they walked to services.

Marji Lipshez-Shapiro, interim director of the Anti-Defamation League's Connecticut office, responded with appropriate praise.

"We should not judge a community as a result of a singular hateful event or bigoted person. Instead, the community should be judged based on the way it responds to that hate. By that measure, we applaud the New London Police Department and Congregation Beth El for making it clear that attempts at anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation will not be tolerated in Eastern Connecticut."

This newspaper agrees and shares the league's concerns about security around houses of worship.

As Ms. Lipshez-Shapiro reported, the Beth El episode was the second troubling incident at or near a Connecticut synagogue in the last three months.

"It is encouraging to know that Congregation Beth El prioritizes the safety and security of its congregants and institution, especially with the High Holidays approaching. With the number of violent anti-Semitic incidents on the rise around the world, there is never a bad time for a Jewish institution to review and enhance its security practices," she said.

The same day police were charging the motorcyclist with breach of peace they also were dealing with a former Hartford police officer who has been running afoul of authorities on land and sea for several days throughout the region. We also learned this week that former Groton Police Chief Michael J. Crowley had been indicted on two felony and three misdemeanor charges on May 6 by a grand jury in York County, Maine.

Earlier this summer a former officer from Norwich was arrested on burglary charges — a serious infraction but not nearly as disturbing as the murder charges brought against a university police officer in last week's shooting of an unarmed black man in Ohio, a South Carolina officer similarly charged in April, and other violent confrontations elsewhere in the country.

While there are no reliable statistics on the extent that police or victims should be blamed, reports suggest the number of shooting deaths by law enforcement authorities could spike this year. The Washington Post reports that police shot to death 570 people in the United States so far in 2015, including at least 89 within the past 30 days.

At this rate the final tally undoubtedly will eclipse last year's annual total of 623; in 2013 the number stood at 337.

Police here and elsewhere must improve communications with and increase trust by the public they serve so there can be more outcomes like the New London synagogue case and fewer like those involving Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. or Eric Garner in New York's Staten Island.

Nobody wants the long summer any hotter.