Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise Your Father in heaven. And we praise you, Officer Cook, as your soul illuminates all the mountains and hills from God's heavenly porch. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Kindness makes the difference between passion and caring. Kindness is tenderness, kindness is love, perhaps greater than love...Kindness is goodwill, kindness says, "I want you to be happy." kindness comes very close to the benevolence of God. Your charitable acts of kindness will serve as your hallmarks, Officer Cook, forever. You are now resting in peace my neighbor, friend and hero in God's loving embrace. When a person regardless of status goes beyond what is expected of them and in doing so gives up their existence, then they should be praised for all to witness.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings...I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels. We should always think kindly of brave men and women such as yourself, Officer Cook, who risk their lives each and everyday in the performance of their duties. Heaven cannot wait to receive such wonderful servants of God who now serve eternally as God's watch persons over all present officers who have to keep law and order and who try to stamp out evil. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever. You are going to forever keep a watch on us , Officer Cook, to see if we are up to God's daily tests. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years it should be as natural to mankind as breathing or the upright gait; but if he does not learn it he must perish. Officer Cook, you learned all your lessons on good manners from your parents and this is what made you the man you were. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Five things constitue perfect virtue: gravity, magnanimity, earnestness, sincerity and kindness. You were the absolute paragon of all five, Officer Cook. You utilized all of these traits on duty to make yourself the humble servant that Dade County already knew it had in their midst. It is sorrowful that you cannot express these traits today, although they are certainly found in the genes of your wonderful family members. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer. All your intentions throughout your wonderful life, Officer Cook, were only for the sake of heaven. And this is preciously why you are remembered in a loving and honorable fashion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Man should not consider his material possessions his own, but common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need. This is what you and Karen always believed in, Officer Cook. To share and share alike. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Kindness is a language which the uneducated can speak, the unintelligent can understand. It does not take a rocket scientist, Officer Cook, to understand the simplest way to exude kindness and be mid-mannered with people. You were a highly educated person and even if you were not an officer, you still would have given the shirt off your back to one less fortunate than yourself. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I believe with all my heart, Officer Cook, that you are watching from heaven what is taking place on this earth and you always gave people the benefit of doubt. Your calm presence still serves as an inspiration to our officers of today. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You most certainly blazed only a trail of righteous and grace personified.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
The great dominant, all controlling fact of life is in the innate bias of the human spirit, not towards evil, as the theologists tell us, but towards good. But for that bias, man would never have been man; he would only have been one more species of wild animal ranging a savage, uncultivated globe, the reeking background of sheer instinct and appetite. You were never a domineering person, Officer Cook. I believe your heart only wanted to achieve goodness, your family and friends know this. You blazed a trail for others through inspiration and motivation. We are very proud of how you carried out your duties. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
No man giveth, but with intention of good to himself, because gift is voluntary and of all voluntary acts the object is to every man his own good. Your role as a police officer was to answer calls and you were dispatched to scenes regardless of who was calling. Obviously, your greatness as a human being was shown by your actions on May 16, 1979, when you put others safety above yours and for this God bless you as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Let us not be justices of the peace, but angels of peace. But indeed we are greater than the angels above. We have a chance as you did, Officer Cook, to shape and make the world a better place. We must act now for haste makes waste. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Whenever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness. This is how we become closer to God and this was your calling as a young man, Officer Cook. You performed your duties well and now your special soul is closer to God as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path. I don't think, Officer Cook, you swerved very much. You kept your eyes glued to the task at hand and that was to make us safer and more secure. This is a crucial role of police officers to help anyone at anytime in need. Well done faithful servant. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Charity is in the heart of man and righteousness in the path for men. Pity the man who has lost his path an ddoes not follow it and who has lost his heart and does not know how to recover it. When people's dogs and chicks are lost they go out and look for them and yet people who have lost their hearts do not go out and look for them. The principle of self-cultivation consists in nothing but trying to look for the lost heart. Fortunately, Officer Cook, you were there on duty to guide and redirect those persons who were lost. You never needed a compass on duty to direct you and it is a crying pity that young man who took your innocence away from you could not have been guided in a straighter path. We'll never forget your bravery and service. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle. The affection you graced others with, Officer Cook, is a trait you were raised and blessed with coming from your loving family. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No. I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds, yet I willingly cure him for the love of God. For the grace an dlove of the Almighty, Officer Cook, you would have done anything to assist anyone. This is one of the many qualities that Karen loved when she married you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
No joy can equal the joy of serving others. That is why Officer Cook, your heart was as large as it was. Always giving, always caring and always sharing. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 20, 2013
A knowledge of the path cannot be substituted for putting one foot in front of the other. You always had your feet firmly planted in front of you, Officer Cook. You had the resolve to conquer any obstacles that might prevent you from becoming the very fine officer that Dade County had to place out on its streets. If they could only cast your likeness and qualities that exemplified your personality, then we would all feel at ease. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013
Do everything with a mind that lets go. Do not expect praise or reward. This is how Officer William C. Cook operated. never expecting and always the loyal and ever so faithful and humble servant. Now that you have given us your bravery and fortitude, we can give you back the honors you surely deserve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. For all the hard work under vast conditions, public servants such as yourself, Officer Cook, should get something in return for all that you achieved during your tenure in serving Dade County citizens. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013
When strangers start acting like neighbors....communities are reinvigorated. I believe this is one of the main reasons, Officer Cook, you decided to become a police officer. You can make a difference and you personified this statement immensely. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. It is better to give than to receive. But, you received awards and accolades for your excellent police work. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013
Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind. Never being one to take anything for granted, Officer Cook, you exemplified this paragon to the maximum. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013
The best portions of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts, Of kindness and love. This is how your loving family and friends in and outside of your department and from all agencies across the United States will remember you, Officer Cook. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013
He alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving. As your loving soul rests in perfect peace my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, let this be as a reminder to all of us to try and get along with all people as you did from all walks of life. Let us be kinder to one another.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 19, 2013