Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Arrogance breeds impatience. This my neighbor, friend and beloved hero, Officer Cook you were not. The fruit of rushing is regret and as a duly trained Metro-Dade Police Officer, you and your partner had to think things through. That terrible day of May 16, 1979, you drove to a call that you dealt with many other times. At least while driving to the scene, you had a few moments to ponder and then you had to react and make split-second decisions. You had to employ patience as a dialogue, cope with uncertainty, and assert yourself as an officer respectfully. This definitely is difficult to accomplish for a normal thinking person. As an officer you don't get too much time to think. How you react to take control of a situation becomes critical. Officer Cook, you reacted properly and as best as you could, God was steering you and your colleagues through a web of evil and you were there to diffuse a dilemma gone wrong. You were brave and courageous beyond a shadow of doubt and for this Dade County citizens should be forever in debt to you. Rest in peace and assist us on how to cope with life's share of issues.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2012

Everyone faces choices in their daily lives. It is the one who stays totally committed to the tasks at hand that will succeed in the end. I would imagine in all the classes you took in college, Officer Cook, this served you well while studying in the police academy. The long hours spent were well worth it. Yet, the physical and emotional rigors of the school prepared you for what you would face when you began your Metro-Dade Police Department career patrolling Dade County streets. The total commitment to your family, and position demonstrated the work ethic and intensity with which you brought to work each day. Your calming demeanor and passion to help make people safer will never be forgotten. The sacrifice you and your forty-one other colleagues at the Metro-Dade Police Department made shows the fabric of your beings. The families you came from, the many colleagues you worked with and made friends with from other departments, only reinforces the uniqueness of your personalities. The skill you so portrayed in calming those who needed someone to listen to, this takes someone special as you my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook. Rest in peace and the commitments you made to others, will never go undone nor be forgotten.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

The quality of unconditional love and compassion is something that is ingrained in a person from the time they are old enough to comprehend. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you were meticulous in showing everyone respect, on and off your position. A person who constantly works on acts of kindness, will free themselves of anger. You were not a man of anger who held grudges against anyone. Just a water reflects a face, so too does the heart of one person reflect that of another. you epitomized the role of an officer who was "centered and balanced." Rest in peace and every time you smile down upon us, we should think of a stream of water.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

Patience is a virtue which a police officer must practice daily when dealing with the public. officer Cook, you were a master at this and because of this you are reaping your reward in heaven. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

There are those who speak like a sword that stabs: and the words of the wise heal. There are two basic approaches that are possible to take when you see someone doing something wrong. One is to speak harshly, I don't think on duty you did this Officer Cook. You tried to observe and correct with your calming tone and peaceful manner. Be wise. Words spoken in anger can only escalate a problem. Unfortunately, on May 16,1979, you tried your very best to do the right thing and a calm a very despondent young man down who had taken his girlfriend hostage. Tragically, he wanted to end his life in a what we refer to as a "blaze of glory." This was not the way to deal with his problem. We all have problems, I cannot fathom that every one in this world has no troubles. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you and your partner, Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln tried your utmost along with your two colleagues, tried to end a tense situation and in the end your life was taken for no good reason. The only thing positive to gain from such a tragedy, would be to utilize your sacrifice in training future police recruits on proper police conduct and how to maintain law and order by the book. All of your actions were deemed proper and I guess possibly if Metro-Dade police officers were afforded side panels, you might be alive and well today enjoying your retirement. God had other plans, and has a true blue and humble angel to help Him watch over us. Rest in peace and help those who serve and protect do it correctly,as you so achieved with the department. I'll always say a prayer for your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, and my family hopes you enjoy a healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving day holiday.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

The virtue of humility, arrogance's opposite, is an awareness that everything we have is a gift from Our Creator. Humility has nothing to do with feeling inferior. It is rather an accurate perception of reality. It is an awareness of one's smallness and limitations in comparison to the vastness of the Creator's creation. Humility contains an awareness of our own intrinsic worth as well as the inherent value of every other person on the planet. True humility which you possessed Officer Cook, allowed to go about the physical and mental rigors of your position. We all make mistakes and it takes a humble person to admit when they are wrong. You and your wife, Karen were probably two of the most humble and joyful people to be associated with. Although, you were married just for a short period of time does not mean that you were not happy. From the day of your wedding until the day God called and took you suddenly from our midst those that knew you were very glad to have known you. for the sacrifices working nights and I believe you were going to have you first weekend off together since working the day shift. I'll never forget you even after these thirty-three years. You are missed by your mother, sister, all of your relatives, friends, colleagues and community at large, those you served and defended. You were a brave person who stayed the course to defeat evil and your sacrifice will forever stand as a legacy for us to carry on. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

Each and every one of us would like to go through the day feeling happy and enthusiastic. Who does not want to feel calm and relaxed tackling life's challenges? Positive feelings of patience, compassion, empowerment, and love are too precious for us to allow them to be dependent on external factors. It takes time to develop emotional self-mastery. But it's worth it. Control over own state of mind puts the buttons to happiness machine in our hands. When happiness fills our lives, anger is left out in the cold. Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero you were able to harness all of the above. In your position as an officer, you had to be firm and unyielding at times, calm most of the time. Compassion you maintained when the situation called for it. A police officer cannot bring anger or any sense of tenseness to their jobs for it could lead to a dangerous dilemma. Your calming approach in dealing with individuals served you and your partners during your six years as a dedicated Metro-Dade Police Officer. Rest in calming peace and shine down on those who serve and protect us with your compassion and youthful enthusiasm.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

We can't possibly know when our making the world better has been achieved. No one knows when they are going to leave this world. Yet, we should remember that we are mortals. The living shall take it to heart. I'm sure Officer Cook, you took nothing for granted. When brave men and women sign on to become police officers, it is with free choice and they are told of the risks. My neighbor, friend and hero, you accepted these challenges readily, and were passionate in everything you put your whole life into in making us safer. God only knows when He is ready for us. Our days of reckoning should begin long before our final journey. Our priorities on how we think, speak and conduct our daily lives should standout. Our objective is to perform good deeds, emulate how you comported yourself and have complete trust in God. Rest in peace and help us stay on course in carrying out our objectives.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

God gives us tests each waking moment to see if we are up to the challenge. Understanding that a given situation is for the best is not trust that everything is for the best. Comprehension is a much lower level than trust. At the point where the brain no longer understands how God is doing everything for the best, trust begins. In other words, trust kicks in when the brain kicks out. When we put our brains aside and activate our trust button, we are happier, and our brains operate more efficiently. Trust now enhances our brain power and our ability to cope under any situation. What transpired to you Officer Cook, is normally and understandably difficult to figure out why, but your family, friends, colleagues and those who cared so much for you, can still cherish the wonderful memories of a life well-lived and all the accolades that come your way are well deserved. We must still subjugate our will to God's will. When society can rein in evil and corruption, then perhaps we can sit back and say this is what God planned all along for us. Your were the savior and knight in shining armor, you made yourself available to serve and protect us and you left a beautiful legacy for all to cherish. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

He shall be like a tree replanted by streams of water that yields fruit in due season, and whose leaf never withers. And everything he does will succeed. Not so the wicked: They are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked shall not be vindicated in judgment, nor the sinful in the assembly of the righteous. For God recognizes the way of he righteous, while the way of the wicked is doomed. A refreshing thought Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero, a quiet and humble caring soul, who looked for the positive in people and dealt with the everyday challenges of your profession with grace and humility. The sacrifice you made on behalf of Dade County and its citizens, should be compared to a flowing stream of water. The patience you exhibited on May 16, 1979, as well as each day of your six years of duty was well planned, and only we might know one day why God needed an angel such as yourself to watch over us. The heroism you displayed will never be forsaken. You are an inspiration to all. Rest in peace and watch over us as your colleagues in this world wage war against evil and corruption.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

You acted as a true hero the day your life was suddenly taken Officer Cook. You transcended above normality, and that in itself is why the world is a safer haven for all to live and enjoy. When attitude and action are combined together with trust, they can for sure form a pretty powerful and yet positive result. It's men and women like you, Officer Cook, who risk their lives daily and have to make split-second decisions in the face of the evil, that one day we hope will be totally eradicated from society. To have stood your ground, and give all that God created within you and try to make a peaceful resolution, that says plenty of of stellar character and makes people proud of you. A brave soul who yearned to make a difference, we can't say enough. We just need to remind ourselves, that you can make a difference. You kept your compass pointing in one direction, and that was to stay the course and do whatever was in your power from an ethical and legal course to make individuals behave in a more peaceful manner. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, as your soul ascends to the heavens above.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Creation, revelation, and redemption are the three pivotal aspects of human history. All were ascribed to God. God created the world, revealed His will to humanity and promised the ultimate redemption. Each act undertaken by God, was for the benefit of human beings, and humanity has a share in all three tasks: in creating the world, in revealing God's infinite will, and in ushering in redemption. let us hope and pray when we a long least are united with the cherished souls of you, Officer Cook and your beloved dad, Charles who so touched this world with passion and grace and and channeled that into making this a better place to live and be prosperous. I can't imagine two finer men than the two of you who are forever being cradled in God's palm.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Once we develop a deep sense of trust that God, by way of Divine providence, does everything for our ultimate benefit to guide us on the path of our needed soul correction, then the pieces of the puzzle of life suddenly come together in a picture of striking clarity. With these principles in mind, trust becomes the universal answer to all of life's questions. Sometimes, Officer Cook, I wonder why you decided to become a police officer. But, from the time you were a young man, you had a certain passion to help others, even though certain professions carry risks associated with them. To this day, we will probably never know why on May 16, 1979, events unfolded that ultimately ended with you making the ultimate sacrifice to protect your fellow officers. God has a Divine plan for us all. Sometimes, people live to a ripe old age, others do not. Some people who commit evil live longer than others who carry on a righteous life. You were blessed with a good life, a fruitful and productive career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. The world, your family and colleagues miss your presence. But, we know you are patrolling God's heavenly streets, where you watch is quieter. Rest in serene peace my neighbor, friend and hero to us all. You made that who knew you proud and I'm proud to have heard and read about your accomplishments.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Officer Cook, you were a source of strength to draw from when your family experienced the loss of your beloved father, Charles. You were the loving and giving son who never gave your parents any problem. You and Nancy, your loving sister were the foundations of your parents. The embodiment of the very values that were ingrained in both of you. Long since your untimely passing, the values that stayed with you for the wonderful and meaningful twenty-five years of life so richly lived. You honored everyone regardless of faith, race, background, this is what makes a person the reason for them being created. We are placed in this world to do good deeds and make everybody appreciate their intrinsic value to one another. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and help us understand what our roles are, in that which defines our existence. We need to maintain proper focus, complete trust and fruitful faith to carry us all the days of our lives. Your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, always displayed her trust and faith, even during the tragedies that occurred in your family and that is precisely why God has allowed her to live ninety-seven wonderfully healthy and prosperous years.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

In essence, trust is growth power. It's the moving force that helps a person such as you, Officer Cook achieve personal gain more than anything else in the universe. This trust gives a person the will to live and the power not only to withstand tough times, but to gain by them. Trust resembles the deep roots of a tree that enable it to withstand wind, storm, and drought. The power of trust is vast, and one with this trust fears nothing. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you were a confident person, a happy person, who faith allowed you to assist others even though what occurred that day was something that was not entirely in your power to harness. The evil that was perpetrated on you and your fellow officers, was based on anger a very angry young man who lacked simple faith in God and let his emotions get the best of him. Still it is not an excuse for what he did to you and your colleagues. Anger destroys lives and we can be sure not to forget the challenge you faced and the attempt to calm a violent situation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you dealt with life's challenges faithfully, placing complete trust in God and now God's watching over you, and shining your trust and faith down from heaven upon us.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

You gave your parents Officer Cook, much satisfaction and gratification. A beautiful human being. You were a sensitive, considerate, and humble son. You always evaluated yourself to see where you improve something. You were the loving son so devoted to your parents, and after your dad, Charles passed away, you visited your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, either before or after ending your shift to check on her. What a devoted person you were. You made your parents so very proud, what else could we say.Your thoughts, speech and deeds are how you are going to be remembered. Of course, the sacrifice you made in the line of duty will never be forgotten by my family or those who knew you and knew the trust you placed in Our Creator. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

We have free choice over how we cope with life's difficult situations. They appear in our daily lives whether or not we want them. Happy is the person who readily accepts these tests or challenges. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you stepped up to the plate for six years recognizing the challenges of protecting and serving Dade County and its citizens. You didn't shy away from a challenge. You stood eye to eye and face to face to endeavor to confront evil along with your partner and colleagues that day in Liberty City. God watches over those who serve Him loyally and you sir did absolutely that. You did not back down. You were as calm as you could possibly be and when you needed to employ other methods you did the very best, as you and your colleagues were trained to do. You maintained a positive outlook during a tough dilemma, kept your poise. The trust you so possessed during your life allowed you to not be bitter and broken in spirit. We are broken-hearted at your loss. Patient endurance, the result of trust, paves the road to genuine tranquility. Without this trust the world becomes a purgatory worse than the purgatory itself. We face choices every moment of our lives, you faced one and you were not required to answer that particular call and yet you did and protected your fellow officers from harm and in doing so sacrificed your being so others could carry on your legacy. They don't make heroes like you Officer Cook. Rest in trusting peace along with your dad, Charles, my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2012

Trust enables us to be happy and to understand God's individual message for each of us.. Even when we don't succeed in grasping God's message, we should never the less accept out current circumstances happily. You were that kind of person who readily accepted the challenges and rigors of what was expected of you as a Metro-Dade Police Officer. We are obligated to make a blessing on the bad sincerely and willfully, in the same manner we do on the good. I'm sure you family as devout as they are say prayers thanking God for all the goodness both you and your dad, Charles represented in the world. I'll always keep your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook in my prayers. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2012

To attain the level of trust that everything is for the best, we must learn that own path in life has been predetermined by God. You came into this world Officer Cook to perform a mission and achieve in making the world better. You succeeded beyond imagination and we are all better and safer because of the sacrifice you made. You performed your duties under unavoidable tough times and yet we have to trust in God that what happened to you on May 16, 1979 was God's will and you were not the kind of police officer to shirk away from difficult situations. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Let us see if we are up to the challenges that lie ahead.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2012

How can one be both a stranger and resident in the world? The answer is as follows: God is saying if you feel too comfortable in this world, too much like residents, I will be a stranger to you. But, if you do not feel entirely at home in this world, if you feel a bit like strangers yourselves, i will be a resident-I will dwell among you. I know Officer Cook, you took nothing for granted from the day your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, gave birth to you, until that very tragic day of May 16, 1979 when you sacrificed your life in the performance of your duties. You enjoyed every minute of being a loyal, honorable and dedicated Metro-Dade Police Officer. You placed every ounce of ability on the line for your community and the safety of its citizens. Police have to deal with all kinds of conditions as well as people they encounter and are very well trained in such activities all throughout their careers. You performed under stress and were the epitome of calm during tense situations. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you fulfilled our expectations and realized and reached your goals and were God's ever faithful and devoted servant. Your legacy is forever sealed and you will never be forgotten by myself, your family, friends, colleagues who loved serving along side with you.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 1, 2012

The virtues of trust are so vast that they defy description. Trust is the root and foundation of a person's task in this world. As such, every one of us needs to reinforce their trust. By strengthening our trust, we perfect our character. This trust is the spiritual vessel for Divine abundance, invoking the best blessings of health, personal welfare and livelihood. This trust is a mighty spiritual force. With simple and pure trust, one longs for a greater connection to God, and rises to higher spiritual heights. This trust is the foundation of holiness, and one who attains this trust achieves a purification of the soul. This brings a person such as yourself, Officer Cook, to the level of true patience, composure, and inner peace: in the context of such an emotional climate, you were able to maximize you intellectual and functional potential to the hilt. That fateful day of May 16, 1979, when emotions were running high, you and your colleagues tried to deal with a situation in which a gentleman was holding his girlfriend hostage and to defuse the strife, you just wanted him to drop his weapon and to surrender peacefully. Unfortunately, this did not happen and you and your fellow officers had to resort to using your weapons. You battled evil face to face, and in the end gave all that you had to attempt to calm down and silence the aggressiveness that was perpetrated upon you and your colleagues. You gave one hundred percent and did your duties as you were so diligently trained to carry out. The twenty-five years of your cherished life were so blessed with this trust and not only that, but spiritually speaking, you were able to comprehend the rationale behind the events not only with what you were dealing with that day, but other times when your calming influence and demeanor was necessary to help assist others. Your perfect soul my neighbor, friend and hero should rest in peace and give others the ability to trust in God who guides our comings and goings.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 1, 2012

Faith will not make the world right. Faith cannot guarantee that its adherents will be good, unswayed by anger or hate, lost in a mist of kindness and prayer. It does not eradicate conflict or eliminate pain. Faith can alter vision. But God can touch a life. Officer Cook, God certainly touched your precious life in many ways, as he did with your family. For many who suffer a tragic loss of someone they loved, this can be very difficult to deal with emotionally. For the last thirty-three years since you gave your life to protect and defend not only your colleagues, but the citizens of Dade County, I can say its probably been difficult in dealing with your loss, the gaping hole your passing left. You were so loved and adored by your parents, sister, Nancy, of course your lovely wife, Karen and all who came in contact socially and professionally with you. You were the virtue of what it means to"walk with God." As a man of faith, who walked the straight and narrow path in pursuing liberty and justice for all, faith and trust went hand in hand. "Come, let us reason together." Since we try to emulate God and His ways, let us walk and cope and console each other that all that you, Officer William Coleman Cook, badge#1664 stood for will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, along with your father Charles, as we share in the memories of two lives that were well lived. Two men who put complete faith in God each and every day. I will continue to keep your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook in my thoughts and prayers. A woman of valor, a devout individual who has served God with her entire being for over ninety-seven years in good health, peace and spiritual prosperity. One never gets over losing a child or spouse and yes, it is difficult, but with God guiding their every movement and from the help of friends and community it certainly can make for a brighter day. As I tell the people at my Sabbath Services, if we communicate with God some way, some how, we will receive an answer for what we are looking for.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 1, 2012

Law enforcement personnel are our friends. They work together with the community to help make this world a better place. When we create together we can go far beyond what is imaginable. The Lord revealed himself to me as old. Eternal love I conceived for you then. Therefore, I continue my grace to you. When decency and compassion combine together, the after product is one mighty fine accomplishment. The potential is there, it needs to be brought to the forefront. Officer Cook, you certainly knew precisely how to maximize your potential, and because of the zest and zeal you brought to the Metro- Dade Police Department, this is why we feel safer and more secure. Your sacrifice on our behalf, serves as the glue which binds our community together. if God is with us, why has all this befallen us? Some day we might be able to answer this question. Rouse yourself, why do You sleep. O Lord? awaken, do not reject us forever! Why do You hide Your face? Ignoring our affliction and distress? We are certainly distressed over your tragic passing, and God knows this. Your family will always be left with a void, you were the glue, the inspiration of your parents hearts, their pride and joy and God bless your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, who at age ninety-seven has been blessed with good health and spiritual prosperity. I will always keep your mother in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace, my neighbor, friend and hero and keep inspiring us on the right path. Come let us reason together as God has two very honorable men, you, Officer Cook and your dad, Charles cradled in the palm of His hand to guide our every movement. The lessons in life you so passionately taught us must stand forever and cannot be forgotten. The words you spoke also need to be reemphasized.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2012

As a photographer, discovery and exploration were essential Officer Cook for you to snap the greatest pictures of a world that offers goodness. Nowhere is God so needed by human beings and so vividly depicted by the tradition as in the decisions of human life: personal, interpersonal, societal, global. Dealing with our people is the first and most important measure of respect for or disregard of God. Guidance, comfort and governance- the search for all three has its place in the quest to find a "personal" God. God is everywhere, and touches each of us in happy and solemn times. From the book of Psalms: O Lord, you have examined me and know me. When I sit down or stand up You know it. You observe my walking and reclining, and are familiar with all my ways. Where can I escape from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? The friendships you forged and the righteous life you led will serve as your living legacy. A man of compassion, goodness, tenderness and care. Rest in peace Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero and may the gentleness of your soul touch us all as you so touched us for twenty-five years.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2012

We no longer live in a world in which belief is the sole bearer of human aspiration. Like all confrontations in the face of death, faith may seem at times hollow and difficult to sustain. Still the depth of faith, should we achieve it, is often proportional to the pain undergone in the course of searching. Today, trust in God, makes its stand not on unimpaired certainty, but on the ground of trial and hope. Faith seeks to strip the ultimate time of our death. Death is not the final editor of human aspiration., There is the possibility of preservation and renewal. There is God. God remembers all the forgotten. Every person, achievement, deed is touched by eternity. Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero so courageous, you are still recalled for your uniqueness. Your positive outlook and manner in which you so vividly carried out your career and personal life with your wife, Karen and friends is not something that will just pass. The faith and trust you so displayed that day of May 16, 1979, will forever capture a picture of long lasting memories. You appreciated everything you had because of the excellent upbringing you and your sister, Nancy had. Myself as well as all your other family members, friends and colleagues are all left with broken hearts wondering why did this happen to such a wonderful and gentle soul that you were officer Cook? All we do and all we are is vitally preserved, not frozen in memory. Let not ambition mock their useful toil, their homely joys, and destiny obscure: nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile. The short and simple annals of the poor. Full many a gem of purest ray serene, the dark unimaginable caves of ocean bear: full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air. The blush is not seen, nor is the sweetness wasted. The sweet demeanor you brought to your duties daily are there to remind us to keep forging ahead and not to look back. I'm sure Officer Cook, you would want us to stay the course, keep challenging ourselves to make this world a safer place as you so dutifully exhibited while you lived a very meaningful and successful life. Rest in peace and always smile down on us with that beautiful smile and may the sweetness of your life accentuate our lives forever more.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2012