Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Ring the bells that can still ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. I wasn't there that day, Officer Cook, at your Inspector's Funeral. But the bells at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami were ringing loud and clear, as it was a beautiful day from the accounts of your service and a very moving and emotionally charged with inspiration event that filled the pews at St. Mary's. There was and will always be a gaping hole left by your loss in your family and department. But the brilliant light of your courageous soul will forever illuminate this world in the hopes that it can dispel the darkness of evil and the wicked who run to pursue it. You ran Officer Cook, to chase down evil that day and in the process saved four of your fellow officers and two civilians marking a new dawn in the Liberty City Community of Metropolitan Dade County where you loved serving and protecting its citizens. I hope and pray that this day the sentimental value of things often exceeds their practical uses. they become old friends who share our lives. If any citizens back when you served there in the 1970's are alive and reasonably well, hopefully they have not forgotten your sacrifice on their behalf. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your soul and that of your sisters and brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice should serve as the offering of renewed peace and unity that those very citizens can live their lives by as they prosper and endeavor to pick up the pieces left by racial strife in their communities. I noticed driving by yesterday a new building in Liberty City off NW 27th Ave. and around NW 47th St. My have times really changed and hopefully for the betterment of the people living there with their families. Your eyes might not believe Officer Cook, the transformation that has taken place.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

No more words. In the name of this place we drink in with our breathing, stay quiet like a flower. So the night birds will start singing. Things serve not only as mirrors of our inner quests and questions, but also as agents of change. Things have sure changed, Officer Cook since both your days on the force and your tragic passing. But somehow we have to view the good things that God has brought about to this world. Your nephew, Justin was born in 1986 as were your two great-nieces: Alexis and Skyler and great-nephew, Legend. I had the pleasure to meet each of them and played soccer in your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook's backyard with Legend about twelve months ago. They'll grow up to be fine upstanding citizens of their communities as did you my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Things make connections between everyday experiences and the world of deep meaning. They can point beyond themselves to the profound. Things can encourage such spiritual practices as being present, openness and wonder. They are also constant reminders of the Mystery of Love among us. All these mysteries of why things can and do happen unfortunately to good people like you, Officer Cook. Only God knows why and He apparently needed you valuable soul to help Him wipe away the evil that took you from your loved ones and friends. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Know, O my son that each thing in the universe is a vessel full to the brim with wisdom and beauty. Officer Cook, you allowed your senses not to be impaired and relished all that you were given to accomplish. If you love it enough, anything will talk with you. The value of a personal relationship to things is that it creates intimacy and intimacy created understanding and understanding created love. Never was anything in this world loved too much, but many things have been loved in false ways and in all too short a measure. For all your time in this world, Officer Cook, you greatly gained a new found measure of respect and admiration from your family, friends and colleagues who were truly amazed by your exploits. Your dared to be bold and yet gentle and calm like a breeze. Your valor and courage were your hallmarks by which your legacy will always stand as a building block for other officers to attempt to climb. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

See the world as your self. Have faith in the way things are. Love the world as your self; then you can care for all things. You always viewed the big picture, Officer Cook and this is what brought you to become the unassuming, humbly achieving officer that Metro-Dade had serving in their ranks. There was a popular song sung in the 1970's that the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball team made even more famous. The song was titled, "We Are Family." Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you will forever be a part of the Metro-Dade Police Department's most finest and outstanding officers the world may never see the likes of ever again.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Be passionately aroused by life. Cherish every moment, honor your commitments and treasure your kinship with all. A man of his word, that was what you dedicated to life and career to Officer Cook. You lived your days with a refreshing zeal not so often exhibited by others. Others should relish what you so faithfully relished and that was to live life with compassion, but do so with honor and dignity your position brought to you. Be firm and yet fair when it is needed the most. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Accept that you are a child of God. Sing your own song with gusto. Fulfill your mission as a co-partner with the Holy One in the unfolding drama of the universe. You and Karen were Officer Cook, partners in this blueprint we call life and now we have to summon the courage and fortitude to accept that you and your beloved father, Charles are a vibrant part of God's after life, looking down and assisting Our creator in protecting your fellow comrades who are serving communities to get a better grasp on evil and how it can destroy a modern world. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Follow your heart's boundless desire. It takes you out of yourself and fosters an appreciation for the multidimensional pleasures of life. You followed Officer Cook and God took you through your successes and simple enjoyments which you allowed yourself to indulge in from time to time. You were a multifaceted human being capable of doing many tasks without much aid. The sign of a very gifted fellow indeed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Accept the unknown as part of life. Don't try to unravel the profound mysteries of God, human nature and the natural world. Love the ineffable. You certainly did, Officer Cook and you appreciated all the opportunities that God placed at your front door as did Karen. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Cultivate a vibrant curiosity and welcome the reports of your senses. The world is alive and moving toward you with rare epiphanies and wonderful surprises. Remember you are standing on holy ground. We can only wonder Officer Cook, what the world would be like if you were still here helping us shape the future foundation that a man of your great intellect help lay for others to walk through that door inspiring others to keep at it and to never give up hope. You never did. We shouldn't either. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Practice the art of seeing the invisible. Use the wisdom of your personal visions to renew yourself and your community. You always reviewed your actions, Officer Cook and put into live practice what you were taught by your instructors. You looked, observed, practiced and drilled continually until it was time for your final examinations and before you took to the streets to serve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

In this age of global spirituality, respect differences but affirm commonalities. Work together with those who are trying to make the world a better place. Police officers such as yourself, Officer Cook, keeping working harder and harder each day to make their communities safer. It's because of men and women such as yourself, who make the ultimate sacrifices are we finally able to realize our hopes, goals, aspirations and dreams. Your visions of yesterday are our where our sights are set for tomorrow. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Welcome the positive changes that took place in your life. I would say to this that because of your sacrifice, Officer Cook, officers in Dade County now have the side-panels that were not there when you served. Obviously, death is always sorrowful and we are sorrowful over your untimely death, Officer Cook. But your wonderful soul breathes life into all your loved ones. God has opened His windows for a little fresh air and His wholeness and healing are waiting in His wings as He awaited for your ascending up His ladder. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Be willing to learn from the spiritual teachers all around you, however unlikely or unlike you they may be. Always be a sensitive student. You were always a good student and possessed the acumen to gain more insight from those you admired and wanted to learn from. You played the drums in high school, so you had to have an inner feeling and appreciation for the fine arts. Your humbleness, Officer Cook, was a very good way of exhibiting your dignity and integrity so essential in your position of fair and just treatment to all citizens you served. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Find this divine energy in your daily life and share it with others. You shared this Officer cook, with one of the most important person in your life, your beloved wife, Karen. For several wonderful years you enjoyed each other's company and set your priorities in order. You understood each other and the sacrifices the two of you had to make for one another. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Give imagination free rein in your life. Explore its images and ponder its meaning-making moments and it will always present you with something new to be seen, felt or made known. As an amateur photographer, Officer Cook, your vivid mind and sense of the outdoors served to allow you to be free a bit while off duty. You enjoyed your quiet times like any other officer and it showed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Practice hospitality in a world where too often strangers are feared, enemies are hated and the "other" is shunned. Welcome guests and alien ideas with graciousness. Your parents and you and Karen, Officer Cook, always had your doors open and available to host parties and other happy occasions. It's a shame you are not with us physically to greet and embrace your friends, but we know you are greeting your friends in God's heavenly palace along with your father, Charles, as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. always

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Let this positive and potent emotion fuel your dreams and support your service of others. Through your attitudes and actions, encourage others never to lose hope. The ever present optimist, you always fought for and wanted others to succeed through your inspiration, Officer Cook. The charming charismatic person you were defined the quality of loyalty you displayed while on duty serving your community. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Spell out your days with a grammar of gratitude. Be thankful for all the blessings in your life. And you were Officer Cook. And we should all be too for having you with us for twenty-five wonderful years of endeavor. You changed a lot of lives for a positive result and this needs to be taken notice of. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The last word of this reflection spells out the gentleness of your upstanding character. HERO!

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Accept grace and your world will be larger, deeper, richer and fuller. Look for its intimations everywhere. Let this seed of the Giver of Life bloom in your words and very deeds. Officer Cook, you were a man of your word and your parents knew the quality son that they raised to uphold the ideas and themes central to growing up with values, values so often missing in today's modern society. You always gave of yourself as did Karen and this is what life is about. Us, we and our have replaced I, my and me. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your horizons were much more broader than that of most individuals and this helped you maintain your humility.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

In both your private and public lives, discover the sweet release that comes from forgiving others. Feel the healing balm of being forgiven and of forgiving yourself. I'm sure as even-tempered and as a mild mannered gentleman that you were Officer Cook, it was easy to find forgiveness in everyone. Your calming demeanor was very evident from your first day on the job and until your last watch, trying your utmost to defuse a difficult situation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Recognize and accept that there is another dimension to life than what is obvious to us. Live with obstacles, doubt and paradox, knowing that God is always present in the world. You lived by these theme, Officer Cook and it is what carried you in your career and made you the man you grew up to become. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

As duly sworn officers, it is your duty to help not only protect a community, but to assist in building it up too and not hold anything back. You celebrated your life, Officer Cook, with this intoxicating passion and it increased your zest in everything you touched, came across and crossed paths with. I'm sure you are exhibiting eternal zeal that will always beam down on those who knew and loved you fiercely. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Express your feelings of praise and adoration through devotional practices. Pray with words and pray through your actions. One thing your department did on May 16, 1979, was to pray for you, Officer Cook, that you would pull through. Nevertheless, you were the apple of your wife, Karen's eyes and the apple of your beloved family's too. Your heroic act of bravery will always be spoken of and perhaps it is utilized in training sessions at the Police academy for future officers to examine and to learn from. Your spirituality was something to be humble and yet proud of. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013

Yesterday, as I was driving with my wife, Holly and some seminary ladies we picked up at Miami Airport, we drove north on NW 27th Avenue, I said why don't we turn at NW 75th Street and drive by to NW 17th Ave. I was going to show her and the ladies the street sign in your honor. "Officer William C. Cook Street." Very fitting for such a classy humanitarian who reached out and connected with so many people from all walks of life. And this is exactly how your life was intimately related to all life on this planet. I always refer to you as my friend and neighbor even though we, never had the pleasure to meet and greet one another. If your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, at age ninety-five could take the time to write to me and refer to me as this, I certainly can refer to you, Officer Cook, her darling son by this name as well. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 9, 2013