Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention. Still less can he afford to take all the consequences, including the vitiating of his temper and loss of self control. Yield larger things to which you can show no mor eequal right; and yield lesser ones, though clearly your own. Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him in contenting for the right. Even killing th edog would not cure the bite. This was your job, Officer Cook as it is expected of every officer to prevent wanton mayhem and to keep the peace. Your commitment to excellence should be duly noted and even they should have a special award: "The Officer William C. Cook Award" for excellence above and beyond the call of duty. I'm sure you loved animals and of course treated them as you would expect others to do. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Never put off tomorrow what you can do today. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. Never spend your money before you have it. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap, it will be dear to you. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold. Take things always by their smooth handle. You took your life, Officer Cook, day by day and both you and Karen placed your sacred bonds of marriage in God's hands to guide you both every step of your ways. You my neighbor, friend and hero never let us down, we might have let you down not being able to offer more to you for the sacrifice you gave on our behalf. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly and if you speak, speak accordingly. Officer Cook, this was your method behind your success. We all just wished that fateful day of May 16, 1979, that your word could have had a more profound affect on the person who robbed you of your life and innocence in all the ways you walked in God's perfect ways. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and continue walking calmly and in tranquility as you watch over us.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Be studious in your profession and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous and you will be happy. At least you will, by such conduct, stand the best chance for such consequences. And you conducted yourself at all times, Officer Cook, with the highest standards of conduct and scruples. You can't go wrong this way my neighbor, friend and hero. You worked your tail off to be the officer who served his community with distinction and bravery, like a bookworm always thirsting to learn and to share your ideas and insights with others. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it. When you needed to gain a point of information, Officer Cook, you knew where you had to go and whom to ask. Your wisdom and advice was instrumental in making you wiser and more mature and sure of yourself than others. You will never be forgotten by me or those of your comrades of the past. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. Unfortunately in their lives, police officers have people who dislike them for the undaunting tasks that lie ahead of them. You, Officer Cook, smiled and gladly accepted whatever jobs were assigned to you. You were a very courageously young man of valor who gave his every last ounce of effort to make the lives of those you were charged with serving safer. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Laugh and the world laughs at you, weep and you weep alone; for the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, but has trouble enough of its own. Your laugh and positive sense to make others laugh is surely missed, Officer Cook. But one day your family will see you again in God's sacred knigdom along with your father, Charles and share in a group hus along with your smiles. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come. You never failed at anything that you set out to accomplish, Officer Cook and you sure as heck did not disappoint anyone. You made them proud of who you were and the dedicated professional police officer you grew up to become. I'm proud of you even though I never got the opportunity to have met you personally, but at least met your nephew, Justin and Gina, your niece. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Oh, fear not in a world like this, and thou shalt know erelong, know how sublime a thing it is to suffer and be strong. Your upbringing and that of your family's has kept them physically and spiritually strong for all these years after your tragic passing, Officer Cook. You were a very strong hearted and helpful officer who went out of his way to work problems through to help others and achieve the maximum effect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss. You were a very quick learner, Officer Cook, to pick up on most points an unseasoned veteran might take longer to master. Today being thirty-four years since your ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Dade County and its citizens it's fitting that I leave this reflection in your memory. I just wished they, your department had those side panels in your day. You were a hero to all and you should rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You are watching over your comrades to ascertain there are no more bad moments within your department.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 16, 2013
Each man is born a hero and an oracle to somebody and to that person whatever he says has an enhanced value. All police officers, such as yourself, Officer Cook have a very high level of value and versatility within your department. Once a life as precious as any officers is taken, it must be viewed and honored in the highest terms of endearment. You tried to work through a difficulty and Our Creator needed a loyal and trusted angel to help patrol His golden streets above. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him. History will record your willingness, Officer Cook to think "outside the box" and step beyond the call of duty in order to save your comrades and those two civilians. The legacy you left this world with is how you will forever be rgarded as a hero for sure. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. As humble as you were my neighbor, friend and hero, we shall carry on your fine work and remember as such. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
Caution is the confidential agent of selfishness. Caution in police work is not always viewed in terms of being negative. Deruliction is something that cannot be tolerated from any officers. Turning off one's radio and leaving before your shift is over can be dangerous to other officers whose very lives may be jeopardized by such officers. It's obvious, Officer Cook, your compassion and passion when meshed together produced good results most of the time. No one would ever fault you for going above and beyond the call of duty to help your fellow officers and for what you did on their behalf on May 16, 1979, you will always be saluted and honored accordingly by your department and its rank and file members. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
We know what a person thinks not when he tells us what he thinks, but by his actions. The Dade County community at large knew you, Officer Cook and for what you represented in ideas and ideals. This legacy speaks loud and clear for what we demand in all police officers in their calls to duty. You stood front and center and sized up the problem and endeavored to bring about a peaceful resolution to something that was very serious and life threatening indeed. Well done! Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster. Oysters produce pearls. You were a gem of an officer, Officer Cook. You walked the walk and talked the talk backing up your voice and reason with passion, charm and grace underfire and I wish as your family and friends do, that you were still with us today. You'll always be here in spirit and it's your loving spirit that is guiding us on our specific journeys through life indeed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action and we have trusted to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk, we must act big. Everyday officers such as yourself, Officer Cook, must act decisively and with determination in order to protect their communities. Your brave act showed us your determination to make a big difference in our society and you will be adored by all forevermore. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
Do not delay, the golden moments fly! As one who did not procratinate, Officer Cook, you were there to assist your comrades and on that fateful day, you will forever be remembered for your time and effort to help defuse an awful situation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 9, 2013
I was told something about a dozen years ago, Officer Cook and you know what that was? Speak as if the words exiting your mouth are that of honey flowing, instead of glass falling out of your lips. You probably were a gifted orator and probably now during your retirement would have made an exceptional motivational speaker, because all your deeds performed and spoken were directly from your heart. You carried out your duties with precision and care, exercising caution and restraint when needed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 8, 2013
Go put your creed into the deed, not speak with double tongue. You only spoke the truth, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero. You told it like it is and your unassuming honestly continues to stand out this day. Your appreciated more than you can imagine. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 8, 2013
Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great. Everybody knows you were a great person and friend to them, Officer Cook. Your personality showed its warmth and charm, along with the necessary grace in times of strife. Now as your remembered thirty-four years later may all these positive characteristics stand out in front as your legacy for Dade County residents to reflect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 8, 2013
Trust yourself, every heart vibrates to that iron string. You were the officer, Officer Cook, who trusted his instincts and knew that others trusted you. Your dogged determination made you among the best in your department, that was for sure. Your pride and courage are traits that every fine officer can learn from. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 8, 2013
I meant to state in a reflection on May 6, 2013 that you were among the best and brightest officers back in the day in the Central Division. Having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God and go forward without fear and with manly hearts. You were the man, Officer Cook, whose heroic actions on May 16, 1979, demonstrated once again, why you will not be forgotten. Action does speak louder than words. Courage on duty is better than disgrace with dereliction. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your bravery reinforced the standards that are demanded of every police officer.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 7, 2013
As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived. Your placed your existence in peril each day, Officer Cook, for the good citizens of Dade County, Florida as you were a doer not just a talker. Well done is better than well said. That being said, rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, your concern should drive us into action and not depression, even if at times we still can't quite understand God's hidden mysteries of life and death.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 7, 2013
With faith there are no questions; without faith there are no answers. The only question we may be left to ponder, Officer Cook, is why did Our Creator call you to heaven when He did? The why part will be answered when your loved ones are one day reunited with you and your beloved father, Charles, may you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. When your loving family crosses that veil they will see you again and your soul which is hovering above in the sky is looking down and protecting your family and colleagues who are engaged in the battle of evil. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 6, 2013
It is ours to choose between blessing-unhindered progressive development and curse-emptiness, shallowness, worthlessness. Through our own choice, we can create for ourselves one or the other of these alternative conditions. The choices we make in our lives are so very dear and important to us as individuals. They literally can determine our success or heaven forbid our failures. The decision you made Officer Cook, to become a police officer was a very terrific one indeed as you served your community was distinction and honor and gave to your family a lot of pride to be forever grateful for. The citizens you served can always look back at your life, Officer Cook, those who still remember you back in the day in the Central District when you described among their best officers. This testimonial is your legacy and for this you'll never be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 6, 2013