Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
Forgiveness is choosing to release the hurt and the desire to pay back the person(s) who hurt us. We must remember to be true to our faith, not our feelings. And you were true in faith until your last watch, Officer Cook. This is a lesson you taught us long ago. Sometimes in law enforcement, a person's feelings may get hurt, but if it came down to their feelings or beings getting hurt, they would select the first choice. Officers always have to have the welfare of a person at stake first and then worry about their feelings. You were this type of officer, always putting others ahead of yourself and this is what denotes a hero such as yourself. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 6, 2013
Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations-of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book. Slow me down, Lord and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny. Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed. Let me look upward to the towering oak and know it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well. Exactly as you lived your life, Officer Cook, from your birth until the final call you answered. You and Karen placed your faith at the front of door and as you left for work each day, you trusted in the Lord to see you through. He saw you through and needed you to be among His most loyal and trusted angels. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S.Davis
May 5, 2013
Listening is an art that must be cultivated. He who talks much cannot talk well, as it often shows a fine command of language to say nothing. When you needed to make a point to someone, Officer Cook, I'm sure you first as it is polite to do so listened and then constructively and with a positive demeanor encouraged others on how to handle a situation. The goal of every police officer is to prevent an escalation of a crisis and on May 16, 1979 you did exactly as instructed going by the book. You'll always be held in high esteem. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 5, 2013
God's advice is timeless. He knows our human tendencies and imperfections and offers us invaluable and practical help. We know Officer Cook that all of the advice you gave to other officers was priceless and your absence from your family and colleagues will always be very sorrowful. But you gave your best effort in trying to to resolve a crisis and let it be known that evil did not triumph that day nor will it ever come out on top. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 5, 2013
Unfortunately, there are officers today who desperately need a refresher course in anger management. Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero, you were able to act precisely and recognized the ABCDs of anger and what it can do to an officer's career. You were able to acknowledge, to backtrack to the primary emotion, consider the cause and determine how to best deal with it. This made you an expert in the domestic violence field and your calming voice can still be heard this day. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 4, 2013
I bow to God in great happiness, and I learn from where the suns and the children, my heart all borrow their light. I bow to the friend in deep reverence and discover a marvelous secret carried in the air: This whole universe is just blessed and divinely crazed as I, and just as lost in this wonderful Holy dance. My dear, after such a long, long journey, God has made another soul Free! Your beautiful soul, Officer Cook is floating above helping God steer your comrades in this world from ever present danger. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 4, 2013
The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it. If we keep looking, we may find a reason one day in the near future why you were taken from our midst, Officer Cook. But for now, rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 4, 2013
The power of love is no less potent than that of modern medicine. In the right hands, each serves as its own instrument of God's healing. I still think, Officer Cook, after nearly thirty-four years after your tragic death that God has a way of healing and restoring faith to your loving family and friends for what they went through. The horrible agony of your loss and the life that you so faithfully lived through your character and devotion to duty on the force. If the best medicine could have revived you we would all have been very grateful. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S.Davis
May 4, 2013
In every snapshot of our lives, the obvious and the hidden sit side by side, awaiting only the sharpening of our inner lens to reveal its deepest secrets. During the course of your beloved life, Officer Cook, it is as clear as a bell that you were solely dedicated to helping protect Dade County, Florida citizens and making for a more peaceful and structured society. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 3, 2013
When love tries to restore its bond, there is no escaping the magnetic field it creates. How true, Officer Cook, your years on the Metro-Dade Police Department were spent not only protecting but garnering friendships and this is your everlasting legacy. Let your good natured soul keep watch in God's heaven above. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
May 1, 2013
To allow passion to drive you to your goal, stash gut consciousness away, put limited thinking aside and risk. This is what police officers such as yourself, Officer Cook perform for us on a daily basis. What's loved is never lost. The sacrifice you made on May 16, 1979 for us, my neighbor, friend and hero will never be relegated to the backburners. Your legacy demands that we all stand up. salute and take account and notice your bravery on our behalf. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
As long as we keep the embers of our desires burning, as we keep the flame of your beloved soul, Officer Cook lit, not days, nor months, nor years can ever extinguish its flames. Your life,my neighbor, friend and hero will never be darkened, it will only shine as bright as the "Big Dipper" in the heavens above. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
The time, space and synchronicity are all "virtual realities" in God's world. Your time with us, Officer Cook, your wonderful family and close friends was so important in you helping to make a constructively positive influence in your community and society as a whole. Your perseverance will never go overlooked. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You did everything for a reason and during all seasons, you gave one-hundred percent effort.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
A miracle comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes it is discreet, almost imperceptible, while at other times when we need it badly enough, it is blazed across the skies. If we need to find your soul, Officer Cook, we only need to look up to the heavens above and it's etched across the skies even at night among all the bright stars in their constellations. Lodged in the physical objects we create is a remnant of ourselves and sometimes that remnant seeks a voice. Your voice may be silent, but it echoes in a resounding manner today. we just need to stop a bit and listen to your message. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
When the Universe wishes to bestow a gift, it leaves no table unturned. Your very life, Officer Cook was our special gift and your commitment to excellence each day meant to those citizens that you left nothing to chance. You exhibited poise and grace, calm and charm when these traits were essentially needed in order for you to bring about a resolution to a problem that would occur. You loved your job, this is very evident and since self love is God's love, the most important act of friendship is towards oneself and you showed your affection and esteem to everyone. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
I think you addressed your fellow congregants in your church at Visitation Catholic from time to time where you and Karen prayed. You taught us all one important lesson and that is to live each moment and derive from it all that you are able to. That stained glass window that Karen donated is all the proof we need of how cherished and missed you are from us in a most beloved fashion.When love sings its purest song, the gates of Heaven fling open. Officer Cook, they sure have opened widely so your treasured soul can journey where ever it has to go in order help those officers in this world to travel in order to formulate peace and unity in the communities in which they serve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
A lifetime of waiting seems a small price for a love that is truly eternal. You waited all your life, Officer Cook to become a police officer. You applied for the position, had to take many examinations, both physical and psychological and training in practically all kinds of elements and scenarios. you did not just pay "a small price," rather you paid the ultimate price for displaying heroism and courage over and beyond the call of duty, my neighbor, friend and hero. And now we pay honor to you and the other brave souls of the women and men who paid the ultimate price in order to make our lives and communities safer in order to pursue our dreams and aspirations as you so faithfully did. Rest in peace. We'll always admire and love you for the job you performed for us.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 30, 2013
God's messengers are often difficult to recognize, but their message is unmistakably clear. As one of God's messengers, it's crystal clear, Officer Cook, that your still sending us signals to remind us how to organize your life into a well lived and much achieved one. Your humble nature is very transparent and should serve as our motivating force. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
In life, as in cooking, sometimes spontaneity is the best ingredient. Fortunately, both a man and his wife have accepted the unexpected gift of the moment and the result was a lifetime banquet of friendship. Before you married your beloved wife, Karen, Officer Cook, I'm sure as most couples do, you started out as friends and your togetherness blossomed into the holy bonds of matrimony. Karen has remarried, but I believe she still remembers quite vividly the day you tragically were taken from her and all your entire department. She won't forget, I know she still carries the memories of your bravery wherever she goes. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
What the heart remembers, the mind can never displace. We all can look back at your life, Officer Cook and know that there are very many fond memories. You were so dear and near to your loved ones and friends Absence it is said make the heart grow fonder and so true in your instance my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
Some miracles arrive in full bloom and ready for immediate use, while others require careful seeding, a watchful eye and occasional bouts of superhuman persistence. Once you reached your teenage years, Officer Cook, I'm pretty certain you were ready to make the jump to the next level because of your vast maturity. This enabled you to train, learn and absorb what you needed to in order to climb to the next step on the ladder toward your marvelously successful career. Some petals take longer to blossom, but yours my neighbor, friend and hero were ready and willing to freely accept the challenges that lied ahead. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
Just before the sparks of life are extinguished from a candle, the flame dances. It sends a wistful thin smoke line up into the air, where it circles and pirouettes before it vanishes toward the sky. Light a candle and watch that dance, learn about life and its last breaths. I can guarantee that although you may be gone physically from us, Officer Cook, your spirit's lamp has and forevermore will stay lit for future generations and for those officers privileged as you were to work in your department. Every officer of course is different, but if these brave men and women display the characteristics that you so often showed on duty, it will take them a long way down the road of success. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Those last moments of your life were indeed filled with grace, dignity, integrity and much sanctity.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
There may be twists, turns and bends along the way, but all roads eventually lead home. Plenty of them along the way, but for the most part, Officer Cook, you knew exactly how to manage such situations. Now that you are resting in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you can help Our Creator deal with what all officers have to be able to conquer.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
When two souls are meant to unite, even they cannot stand in the way. How true and now, Officer Cook that you and your beloved father, Charles are together in God's heavenly kingdom, there has to be quite a lot of inspirational conversations that are occurring. Continue to inspire us my neighbor, friend and hero as you both rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013
Far louder than anything we can measure are the sound waves transmitted by a mother's love. I know Officer Cook, that your beloved and wonderfully gifted mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, loves her "Billy" as she referred to you in her letter to me, misses you greatly and loved you dearly. You were the apple of her eye and her darling son, so full of passion and bravery, that no one could ever replace your being there for her. You were revered by everyone. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. hopefully, your mother is doing well out in San Diego, California these days at ninety-seven years of age and I will as I have been doing Mrs. Cook, continue to keep you in my thoughts and my family's prayers for continued good health, peace and spiritual prosperity.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 29, 2013