Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
In police work there is a lot of technical jargon. In fulfilling the sanctity and in protecting and serving the public a few simple words will suffice. You were a man of measured words, Officer Cook and yet you conveyed your point in a smooth and easy going manner. Solving any crime, resolving any issue may take more than words, you were a gifted leader whose speech succinctly made its message sound loud and crystal clear. But the integrity, dignity and dedication must earmark your every movement. Now decades later, Dade County remembers you as one of its heroes whose destinies in life where to succeed. The torch of humility has been passed on and let it travel with devotion and desire as you presented yourself on a daily basis. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Courage and valor, loyalty and enlightenment have carried your family, comrades and close personal friends in all their pursuits. You'll not be forgotten.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 14, 2016
I meant to say, Officer Cook, that not a day goes by and you have not been forgotten. We are born as mere mortals, we breathe and endeavor to accomplish some monumental feat. You were a humble hero, more than a mere mortal whose succinct honor, dignity and integrity assisted you in all your worldly pursuits in life and during your police career, one with more promise and humility left to fulfill. You'll always be forever remembered as a first class servant of God, whose loyalty and faithfulness carried your resolve and it surely was your calming composure which in turn endeared you to all Dade County residents whose unity, peace and prosperity were your number one priorities. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Those salutes of bravery are directed at your beautiful soul as it lights up the night skies. Your legacy glistens from your strength of courage, character and convictions in performing outstandingly. No one forgets the sincerity of an honorable and most humbly righteous gentleman.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 14, 2016
As a lover of photography, your camera had to have a crystal clear lens to see the big picture. An honorable and dignified person who knows right from wrong also sees the big picture. You viewed the wide shot of all Dade County, Officer Cook, with both integrity and dignity setting up the wide angle. The intelligence, intuition along with your keen observations made your patrols for our peace and unity that much more meaningful. You remain cherished and respected among your peers, as does your heroic actions meant to empower us to focus on the positive accomplishments that we can achieve in life as you did for six years of excellence and twenty-five years of humility and humbleness anchored close together. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. One must plan first and then take a look at that big picture. Only focus on the tasks at hand as they are your present duties. Act calmly and compassionately, you did, Officer Cook and it assisted you greatly.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 13, 2016
In solemn reverence do we pay homage to those brave and courageous men and women from the law enforcement profession who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, such as what you did for us, Officer cook. Your honesty, dignity and integrity was always front and center when it came to protecting the peace of all citizens of Dade County. Not a day goes by that you are forgotten. To forget a hero, so humble and humane, a giant of a gentleman in gallantry and character, commitment and the convictions to do what is deemed proper and fitting. It still does not speak enough to your life and police career in which outstanding was used most often rather than waffling or oscillating. You stuck to your plans of intelligence, intuition, leadership and a basic mindset to help relieve us of this awful violence. You did your part and now your future comrades must perform their roles they chose freely and without hesitation or reservation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A solid legacy anchored by strength and resolve, faithfulness and loyalty.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 13, 2016
I meant to say, Officer Cook, that you were one not to run away from evil, you confronted it head to head and face to face. In order for us to remain safe, you gave your life for the good of all Dade County residents. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A labor of love, an esteemed enhancer, a confident enforcer, you served with grace, gallantry, honor and dignity. Something that won't ever be omitted nor forgotten. It takes precise boldness and commitment to maintain a stellar character and you sir kept that for your whole life and career.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 13, 2016
A tragedy does not mean a person was not successful. On the contrary, you were quite a valuable member of your department, Officer Cook. Honest and dignified officers do come along and yet for some unknown reasons, some public servants go astray and find trouble. Those who are mindful of their professional duties go where the problems lie and attempt to solve them. You were not a shirker, they was not turning around, you were there to accommodate those citizens who relied on your leadership, skill and calming presence to see them through. Colleagues from around this country paid their respects to you and your family. The Cook Family knows the lessons of resolve, faithfulness and devoutness, this in and of itself has assisted them with their goals, dreams and aspirations. Your legacy has been properly maintained and keeps its watch over us. rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The righteous seek peace and pursue it vigorously. You were an enhancer and a humble and loyal peacemaker.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 12, 2016
We try to wish, hope and pray for good things in life and sometimes God has other plans for our destinies. I know everyone, your family and friends pulled for you, Officer Cook, to survive that terribly sad day of May 16, 1979. As evident by your outstanding actions of courage and bravery, along with your honesty and integrity, the people of Dade County could not have been more fortunate to have you patrolling and watching over our peace and prosperity. Playing tennis with your friends is only a game, serving the public with diligence and vigilance requires the utmost care, compassion and concern all maneuvered by your desire, devotion, dedication and sincerest determination. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. God has been navigating your heroic legacy of character and commitment for nearly thirty-seven years and will faithfully continue doing so. You touched so many lives humanely and with great humility all because of your humbleness and from an outstanding upbringing.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 12, 2016
Police touch our very lives in a way we may not genuinely comprehend. For you, Officer Cook, honor, dignity and integrity touched us and those family members fortunate enough to have known and loved you. You were admired, cherished and respected by all members of your department and have been saluted for valor beyond the call of duty. The sadness of losing you is the realization that someday we will see you again. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Courage and its strength to stand up for what is and what was proper will be how you are remembered. The cornerstone of peace and goodwill has been spread out as have the enhancements of your sacrifice. God has watched over you as you now observe us doing what is right.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 11, 2016
In the pursuits of life and the happiness there is, we are faced with numerous challenges as are all of our beloved police officers. They display the grit, the integrity and the professional fortitude to go out and survive and by doing so they keep us safe and sound. You only had the best interests of Dade County at heart, Officer Cook. Due diligence and a natural born driven desire fueled by a passion to assist others made you the humble servant that we come to expect greatness from. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your legacy is there to look back at and to realize the true hero of a man of action and commitment to excellence. You were there and unafraid to tackle evil.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 11, 2016
Persistence pays great dividends. But it's dignity, honesty and integrity that God rewards His pious souls of labor. He gives us the opportunities to succeed, if we fail at least trying is still better than sitting idly by and doing nothing. You were an accomplished young man, Officer Cook, whose faithfulness and reverence toward your role made you onto itself a very valued member of the team. We remember those who ideals and values not only enhance the goal of peace, but continue preaching and practicing this very standard of life and of a career you worked very hard at to achieve. Your heroism as does your legacy keeps illuminating our dark skies, at night, your brilliantly beautiful soul continue sits journeys of hope and goodwill for all. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 10, 2016
A prince of peace, a gentleman of perseverance humbling serving and protecting our best interests. A man, an officer of honorable resolve, Officer Cook, you were central to the life and dignity of Dade County residents who relied on your unwavering integrity and a means of supporting the peace and unity process. A gallant and brave young man, you remain steadfastly cherished by those friends who depended on your calming influence to see them through. The work of any police officer is never easy, the stress and the mental and physical makeup to be able to handle any and all rigors of the position in which you freely choose to become. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your strength of courage bounded by humility was the driving force behind your dreams, desires and fearless determination to right any issues which required solving. You will be forever treasured among all mankind.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 10, 2016
My children can tell their children about a humbly and heroically brave young man who gave his life for those to continue in his pathways of fulfillment and achievement. They can speak the praises of yourself, Officer Cook. They can enlighten those folks of your honesty, your boldness and dignity, most of all those words: character, integrity and commitment. The pride you took in your chosen profession to serve and to protect the liberty, peace and togetherness of all Dade County citizens. It took shape in your North Miami Beach, Florida home, actually it started in Berkeley, California where you were born sixty-two years ago. It was a progression and a matriculation through the demands, rigorous training in the field and in the classroom that led to your becoming a leader of other men and women. Those who knew you and worked with you saw something, your smile and genuine concern for others. Nothing was going to detain, derail or stop you from becoming a top flight officer. A man of vision, knowledge and a thirst to learn. Keep studying. Keep climbing that ladder of hope and goodwill. There was more to accomplish. Your goals and missions were guided by the hands of Our Lord, as is your heroic legacy. It remains etched upon our hearts and minds forever. You stood for fairness and justice for all. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Officer Cook, you were a duly devout and righteous gentleman with a heart of gold. I'll keep on praying for you, Mrs. Cook. Your beloved son, "Billy" Officer William C. Cook to my family was a humble and a most blessed Godsend.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 9, 2016
Joy and pleasure. Faithfulness and resolve. The tasks that we as mere mortals attempt to accomplish on a daily basis. The challenges and dangers that our most beloved and courageous men and women face each watch, it's amazing what a little perseverance can do for anyone. For you, Officer Cook, you it was your humility and honesty that brokered the much needed peace and unity in a Dade County community that was struggling to come to grips over the violence and racial tensions that threatened to tear things apart. Your courage and convictions, your integrity, dignity and commitment coupled with your stellar character made people feel at ease once again. Never more forevermore you will remain admired, loved and saluted for caring, for being, most of all for being the consummate police professional. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were your parents twinkle in their eyes. You made them very proud as well as your sister and wife, Karen. God took a very blessed guardian angel with Him to heaven to now patrol those sacred golden streets where nothing will harm again. A sacrifice for security, serenity and goodwill for all mankind. Never to be forgotten.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 9, 2016
Respect by honor, vigilance by valor, integrity by sheer intuition. Your intelligence, Officer Cook, wisdom and knowledge beyond your years made you one of the very best officers during your watch. Your life and career spent with the Metro-Dade Police Department were indeed the most fruitful and resourceful years of your life all dedicated to the backbones of honesty, decency and character. Those words in your case my neighbor, friend and hero never seem to require embellishing. For other public servants they do need enhancing and constant repetition. You'll be remembered for your courageously heroic actions and the legacy you left behind for others to follow in keeping residents of Dade County safe and quiet. Rest in peace. You paid a dear price, Officer Cook, your family continues imbuing your ideals, morals and values. Your parents raised a humbly and humanely devoted son and an even more treasured gentleman and a scholar.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 9, 2016
From sunrise, even before and until sunset, even after were you, Officer Cook, around us protecting and preserving the much needed hope, unity and peace of all Dade County and its residents. Forty-three years ago you embarked on a journey of honesty, love and respect utilizing of course your humbleness, dignity and integrity to work those venues where your calming influence and passion for patrolling were evident. Even now as we salute and come to admire your heroic actions do we realize even more how much you were loved and treasured by all mankind. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Commitment to character and to ethics does lend credence to a life and career steered by bravery in professional duties performed at the highest calling. You lived your life by quality and humility integrated in all your mannerisms, Officer Cook.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 8, 2016
Reverence and the respect, love and admiration of all other people makes for a more happier and peaceful world. What made your family happy, Officer Cook, was the day you told them you wanted to become a police officer. A very arduous task with many mountains to climb before you started patrolling those streets of Dade County where the peace, unity and togetherness of a community would soon begin to take shape. Honesty, integrity and class must parallel decency, dignity and determination for anything to happen. Of course we would prefer no violence, no need for any weapons to be used, you would be residing in a make believe society. But your calming concern steered you through most trouble spots, May 16, 1979, you confronted evil and were outstanding in coming to the aid of your colleagues and those citizens who relied upon your presence. Always a heroically humane legacy of hope, goodwill, character and commitment to uphold the law in an ethical and proper foundation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your smile when your badge was pinned upon your chest says it all behind our American flag. Hard to believe that was forty years ago. Now decades later we honor and salute your gallantry and valor. Badge#1664 did make us proud. The man, the gentleman, my neighbor and friend a hero of great humility.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 7, 2016
Spring is in the sir and yet those thoughts of you, Officer Cook, stay etched within my heart and thoughts. You were the consummate gentleman. The ultimate professional who carried his honor, dignity and integrity quite humbly. The safety and security of all Dade County residents has your beloved signature upon its enhancement and forevermore do you remain a cherished and courageous soul. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The section you are buried in at Dade North Memorial Park, Saint Patrick's II is where a reverent and faithfully loyal soul rests. For all seasons do we take notice, pause and reflect back on a wonderful life and a career destined for more greatness. God has His reasons and purposes for why things happen to His righteous servants of love, labor, devotion and desire.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 7, 2016
There are times I feel disgust whenever I read of any officer violating the public trust, shooting a person for no known reason. That weapon is to be utilized with care and caution. It just bothers the heck out of me when someone like yourself, Officer Cook, was taken in a heinous and senseless manner, just performing your duties and responsibilities to the people of Dade County. Honesty, dignity and integrity reflect your whole department, we don't need anymore Wyatt Earp's in our society with all that most officers are engaged in today. You were a saintly man, a humble man uniquely skilled to be able to deal with what has continued troubling our world. You were very beloved and adored, treasured and loyal to those whom you served alongside of. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your pride and strength of character resonates as loudly and as clearly today as it did back during your watch.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 7, 2016
In order for any community to be without consternation there must be proper and honestly dignified representation. Always one of your many professional attributes, Officer Cook and a sure way for peace, unity and equality for all to flourish. As an honorable man by nature you only cared for the welfare of those in Dade County whom you protected. Until this day and forever do you remain cherished, respected and saluted for maintaining the enhancements that have stood throughout these years. They add up quickly as does your very untimely passing in which you displayed valor and conviction to carry your badge and uniform fairly and most proudly. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your heroic actions were the love and integrity of a mighty true warrior.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 7, 2016
When you dealt with any commotions, Officer Cook, it was always your knowledge, wisdom and honesty that saw you through. You were a prince among people, a good listener who spoke the language of fairness along with our peace, liberties and serenity. God only knows and yet we will always ponder why your missions in life had to conclude at the tender young age of twenty-five. One thing besides being accomplished and diligent, you were dignified and carried your integrity as proudly as you wore your uniform and badge. All that is missed quite terribly, though as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, your paths in life were always faithfully guided by God. As devout and as humane a gentleman as you were, Officer Cook, your engaging smile and yet calming demeanor stood up for all mankind. The chaos and calamities were solemnly handled by your astute and reverent loyalty to your department and to those who served with you in this seemingly never ending battle over violence.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 5, 2016
Modernization and synchronization all big words, nowadays they a part of an officer's watch. Though, through it all you must still remain honest, possess dignity and carry your professional affairs with integrity which you did both on and off your job, Officer Cook. Today, as opposed to the time when you patrolled technology was not like today. Certain parts of an officer's tenure must be up to date. Matter of fact, Dade County residents viewed you as their humble servant and hero forevermore. You paved the roads of peace and unity with your unwavering diligence. What made you admired and treasured was your unselfish heroic actions on May 16, 1979, a day no one, family, comrades and friends will forget. Sacrificing for the enhancement of all society, having a legacy founded upon the principles and ideals of good character, commitment to excellence and the courage to valiantly pursue evil and lessen its wicked effect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 5, 2016
That commitment to excellence, that vision of humble empowerment has helped to sustain the peace and hope, the freewill of all Dade County citizens and you were that genuinely concerned police officer, Officer Cook, who never caved in to pressure, never allowing outside distractions to curb your vigilance. Honesty, integrity and dignity must not be muzzled, your enthusiasm, the passion you delivered to all folks has supplied some of the much needed relief. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Character and courage when distributed properly sure make a person more accountable and it was your reliability that was cherished among all your valiant colleagues. You can't forget a man who was true to his word. You cannot forget that sparkling soul still burning so brightly.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 4, 2016
Day by day, morning after morning, afternoon and during the evening hours were you there in the Dade County community, Officer Cook, to police and to serve the public interest with your candor, honor, dignity and integrity. You were a staunch member of your department whose humility and humbleness flowed from your veins as did the intelligence and influence you utilize din calming others. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. There you were bravely and rationally facing evil face to face allowing us to remain at ease to be able to pursue our goals and aspirations in a peaceful way.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 4, 2016
By doing your job honestly, Officer Cook, you gave others the right to continue maintaining their beliefs and hopes in the same manner as you worked diligently to fulfill those dreams which in the end became a reality. You poured your heart and soul passionately into ideas of how to resolve problems, how to keep people calm, you displayed the proper frame of mind for what was dictated at the moment. Dade County always remembers its heroes and heroines who gave something for the serenity and enhancement of those who relied on your honesty, dignity and integrity. During the stressful times your comrades came to admire and respect your due diligence which to this day has left a lasting impression. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A lasting legacy of courage, character, conviction and dedication are riding behind the wings of humanity and humbleness.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 3, 2016
Public servants who are our most humble and yet courageous men and women from the law enforcement community need our support in the fight against crime. A man on a mission of peace, hope and unity such as the one you navigated your whole life and career upon, Officer Cook, I believe God blessed you, your family and in His very own way instilled characteristics we don't always see in others. You kept your poise, your calm and your presence over the Dade County landscape, so that its citizens could thrive more decently. Honor, integrity and dignity still had to make its way with you as God saw your dreams and hopes reach reality. The fulfillment of a yearning to become the best kept you centered on the challenges placed in front of you. You will always remain loyal, faithful and cherished among your colleagues and family who watched you grow up to become a gentleman of humility. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 3, 2016
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