Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
Vitality and versatility usually lead to positive results. We look up to our many various officers who shine brightly by virtue of these traits. Officer Cook, you were the epitome of achievement by dignity, honesty and stellar integrity. Dade County and its citizens can be mighty proud of your heroism all made by your loving and unwavering boldness and commitment to duty. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A legitimate legacy, treasured and adored by all mankind. Our society is safer for all by virtue of your sacrifice.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 31, 2015
We can utter with clarity that faulty traits can prevent an individual from living up to their ideals. Thank God, Officer Cook, you and the many brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice were beyond superb in character, morals and scruples. It all goes back to how one is raised in their home by their parents. And for you my neighbor, friend and hero, your lips spoke the truth. Your legs took you around to witness all that you provided Dade County residents. Courage and compassion beyond any doubt. Bravery and boldness like never before. You lived your life, celebrated your life and police career and now by virtue of your heroic actions on May 16, 1979, we pause and look back on all the treasured and cherished memories of a most faithful and dignified life. All led by exemplary behavior and proper respect you maintained toward your fellow neighbor. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 30, 2015
There was a situation in Cincinnati, Ohio in which a University of Cincinnati police officer stopped an African American gentleman for not having a license plate. What transpired next, Officer Cook, would be shocking and revolting to the many fine gallant men and women such as yourself who laid down their lives and careers honorably and with bravery, honor and integrity. The prosecutor in Hamilton County held a press conference and said he never saw such a despicable action perpetrated by a police officer. This officer has since been arrested and charged with first degree murder. He shot the man in the head for no apparent reason. If convicted the officer may spend his life in jail. You were an honorable and courageous man, Officer Cook. Your department and the citizens of Dade County had a most congenial and engaging gentleman serving and protecting them with all the due diligence and vigilance your position expects from all their public servants. You can be sure your legacy as a hero will remain guarded and saluted forever. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Life is so special and that is why we cherish our loved ones as long as they are with us in life. God only knows. He needed you for a more sacred mission in heaven.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 30, 2015
Praise the Lord you were not an honor seeking man, Officer Cook, lunacy, acting ludicrous and behaving in a counterproductive fashion were not your staples in life and while performing your police duties. You saw the light. You acted diligently and with the utmost respect. You kept so to speak, both oars in the water, charging full steam ahead wherever you needed to be to extinguish this wanton wickedness. We get up each day and pray like there is no tomorrow that honorable people step up to the plate and act within themselves in a dignified manner. Your courageousness surfaced as did your boldness and commitment to pride and excellence which has illuminated your treasured legacy. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 29, 2015
When someone acts against your wishes, look for how you might be acting against God's wishes. Police officers each and every woman and man who takes the solemn affirmation to serve and to protect must carry themselves and perform all their professional duties with the greatest reverence, respect, honor, dignity and stellar integrity which their positions call for. You were a dignified man and officer, Officer Cook. Nowadays, one must be careful and resist temptation which can lead to the greatest abuse of power. If one lives their lives as you did, humbly and humanely, their legacies are then certain to be saluted and remembered, otherwise whatever breeds contempt will follow with nothing but dishonesty. You were a hero, who heroically acted in a proper measure to attempt to repel violence and lead the residents of Dade County into newer enhancements upon their lives and achievements. Think about this sadly speaking, five minutes of uncalled and wanton violence and one proud son, brother and beloved husband was taken from among us for no common sense reason. Your caring, compassion were the cogs by which you'll be faithfully saluted for having the unwavering character, bravery, courage and valor to do what was deemed right. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. If only Mr. Pearsall had acted as instructed by you and your comrades on May 16, 1979, we might not be reflecting upon your passing, rather, you would be celebrating your retirement with your beloved wife, Karen somewhere very special. That was the kind of wonderfully special individual you were. You afforded people all the courtesies one could give. You relished your opportunities to make a better place here in Dade County, we will always be indebted and truly grateful to have you within our midst, Officer Cook. A truly trusted, cherished and inspirational person. A treasured life and career that was only six years into the making of an upstanding contribution to our society.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 29, 2015
True compassion is seeing the entire picture. The streets you canvassed, Officer Cook, was like an easel. The only difference a big one indeed was that you carried a weapon to protect both yourself and the good residents of Dade County. A most passionate gentleman, a proud and loyal public servant, you possessed a reserve of calm and caring concern for all that you accomplished. You can be sure you'll never be forgotten and remembered for your righteously heroic effort. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Legacies are made to be humbly saluted, your devotion and resolve will be forever respected and treasured.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 28, 2015
As a loyal soldier battling evil on the front line, Officer Cook, it was imperative that any bias or prejudice not enter into your thinking of plans of action on how to resolve conflict. Seeing that you were one of Our Creator's many brave and cherished heroes, it was plain to view your life and career mirrored that of those carrying honor, dignity and integrity within their capacities to help stop this violence that continues its march on our society. You were outstanding in all your actions, accountable and reliable more than we could conjure. Your legacy stands solidly as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Nothing could deter you from your desire to succeed, your dedication to overcome any challenges that were placed in front of you. Only dogged diligence and validated vigilance. From this only achievement can be bred.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 28, 2015
An arrogant person only tricks one into thinking they deserve more honor. It is the person who is happy, healthy and contented with their portion in life as you always were Officer Cook. That sort of behavior cannot ever be commended, much less tolerated from any public servant who protects and serves our common interests. Though, bravery, valor, honesty and integrity are those characteristics that must stay on track. Nothing blinds a person so much as deceit and lack of moral ethics. A legacy of hope and straightforward persuasion, and revered for your unselfish commitment to excellence, you were highly regarded and always respected by your peers and department. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 27, 2015
We should set aside time each day to make an accounting of our actions. It doesn't matter what your faith or denomination, as long as you act in an honorable and dignified manner. For what you meant to our society as a public servant, Officer Cook, you were devoted to the causes of peace and unity in Dade County and no telling where your career would have taken you if not for the wanton violence that took your life and robbed an entire community, your loving family members and many friends who knew what Officer William C. Cook stood for and left as a heroic legacy for other officers to follow in bravery and with a divine courage and valor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Accountants deal with numbers, crunching them together to make sense of something financially. You mustered dedication, desire and determination to make sense of any calamities that might have befallen us. We trip, we pick ourselves up and move on. You, Officer Cook, lifted the spirits of those downtrodden individuals enabling them to pursue whatever they chose to achieve. Success breeds loyalty and faithfulness as does resourcefulness and resolve. You had that and humbly speaking a whole lot more. Only God knows the what ifs and why things happen to good people so cherished as yourself.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 27, 2015
Development and enhancement would seem to embellish one another. One has to first begin a project and then slowly continue its process. Once a particular project is concluded, then careful maintenance is performed insuring this edifice will last for a longtime. Once you started out as a Metro-Dade Police Officer, Officer Cook, you were set to finish what you started. We never know or can fully comprehend where our destinies may take us, yours was one of trustworthiness, total compliance in being honest, sincere and dignified. What has changed in Dade County for the good of its residents has been made possible by your humbly unselfish and unwavering sacrifice that has since served as your legacy of boldness, firmness and fairness, commitment to pride and excellence in an outstanding act of bravery, valor and courage. Nothing finer can be said of a loving public servant whose value and versatility can be measured only for accentuating positive results. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your leadership was born from your outstanding upbringing and was the springboard to all your successes.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 26, 2015
Police officers join in with the citizens they serve and protect as partners in making this a safer place to live and prosper. Every man and woman who takes this sacred affirmation needs to realize how distinguished and how valuable they become as public servants and for this reason they need to comport themselves honorably with stellar dignity and unshakable integrity. Their unwavering and unselfish actions are the links between good and bad, so whenever trouble crops up, they are there to defend our interests. You were there, Officer Cook, in all your humility that you could both muster and summon up. Dade County, your friends, colleagues and those citizens can truly look back and fondly remember a legacy of humbleness, respect and admiration. You were compassionate and yet you had a very special passion to want to become an officer who helped make others more comfortable. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. God has in His palms the heroes and heroines who gave of themselves in grace, bravery and valor. One cannot say too much more for our special angels who now take their position patrolling those sacred golden streets above.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 26, 2015
When someone has a fault in order to correct and to overcome it one should behave in the extreme opposite manner. Caring and rebuking others demands that the one who issues the correction behaves in a fitting fashion as you acted, Officer Cook. Police officers always have to utilize discretion when approaching any problem. Honesty, dignity and integrity are the main focal points to concentrate upon whenever one is dealing with the public at large. You served loyally. You protected those of us who resided in Dade County with extreme faithfulness. It was your humbleness, love for your professional position that took you from point A to point B in bravery, valor and courage. Now as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, let the light of your cherished soul shine vividly as a reminder of what is takes to formulate a heroic legacy. A gentleman and an even more uniquely wonderful police officer whose conduct was above and beyond reproach. Humanely sensitive and considerate of his fellow man. Always remembered and saluted for your grace and gallantry, Officer Cook.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 26, 2015
Transitions can be difficult, Turnarounds can take time to adjust oneself to going from one place to another. Weakness and frailty have to be controlled and need to be replaced with unity and peace. People change. Places change And yet, through it all we tend to go on living our lives as we may see fit. Officer Cook, growing up here in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida it was easy to see back in your day all the changes beginning to take shape until they reached fruition. My family came to this area twelve years later and today I can witness change. I walk by Sabal Palm Elementary School and John F. Kennedy Middle School, two schools we both attended at different times. Change is inevitable, one must adopt or go elsewhere. When you first started out as a police officer with Metro-Dade Police Department, changes, transitions and quick turnarounds were only some of the areas you had to deal with. You adapted well. You maintained a level of concentration centered around honesty, dignity and integrity. Your life and career was started as a hero, lived as hero and you gave the ultimate sacrifice to benefit the enhancements that all Dade County residents deserve and for that you deserve all the salutes and honors that should humbly come your way. Our Creator transitions His heroes and heroines to greater heights as He has you patrolling His golden streets where no harm will ever come your way. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The light of your legacy shines brilliantly and as brightly as does your treasured soul.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 25, 2015
When police officers speak to the general public there can not be any errors of transmission in their messages. They must be clear and concise. Honorable and direct. Meaningful and considerate. God measures every word that comes from our lips. When you spoke to the general public that you served and protected so well, Officer Cook, the pronouncement was both direct and to the point. You did not have to say anything else. For what it is worth today, police officers have a much tougher job on their hands and it has to be performed with dignity and integrity, after all dialogue is a two-way street. NW 77th Ct. and NW 12th Ave. on May 16, 1979, was a venue where actions were called upon as much as conversation. You hung in and fought a gallant battle with a young man bent on acts of wickedness all because he did not want to lose his girlfriend and your bravery, resolve and valor were summoned to try and end this standoff of which your humbled heroic act will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your legacy stresses character and profound commitment to excellence and achievement as much as your life that you lived in such a cherished manner.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 25, 2015
Have you ever felt there is no room to turn? Things seem confused, no one's concerned, the times we live in are like dark, a little faith, a light to spark, a clear vision eases the pain a little. Hope arises again. God helps us in whatever do. When we rely on Him to assist us, He will always come through. Never will we feel alone, with His help we can stand on our own feet. All the world we hope for, we can stand on our own. Sometimes we feel the strength and power in His hands, but we might understand. It may not always be the way it seems, but God backs our every circumstance. When we need His help he always comes through. We stand together. All the world we hope for, is open to see. He leads us beside the still waters. Prayer after prayer, tear after tear, begging for help, for heaven to here. God is on our side, every door is wide open. Our only hope is to look toward the sky. God waits for our cry, we shall be one, never alone, with His help we can stand on our own. Whatever is meant to be, with God's help. Officer Cook, with God's help we will see you once again. Those who knew you saw a real honorable man, a dignified and devout hero. A humbly respected officer filled stellar integrity to see your watches and service to Dade citizens through. You'll never be forgotten because you left a legacy of faith and trust for all to share. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were there, Officer Cook, in both the brightest of times and in the darkest moments. Your boldness and resolve did all your conversing, your actions as heroic as they were spoke loudly and clearly. The memories are many to look back upon. Never take anything for granted. You never did. Each day was accentuated with greatness. Outstanding and superb efforts were and are the reasons as to why people now can exist the way they exist.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 24, 2015
We walk the streets because of your sacrifice, Officer Cook and we should count our blessings that such an honorable man came into many lives. You brought you rentire professional portfolio when you came to work. We are exposed to many things, those who knew you knew you had destiny to succeed written on your uniform. We should try to measure up accordingly. The legacy of strength of character, commitment to size up a problem and resolve it can never be forgotten. You left us too soon and you are missed beyond words. There is hope in valor. There is security in honor and dignity in desire. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 24, 2015
An officer you worked with in the 1970s named Robert "Bobby" Parker passed the other day. The newspaper reported that he took his own life. Very sad as he celebrated his birthday the day before. He rose through the ranks to become the Director of the Metro-Dade Police Department from 2004 until 2009. he was known as yourself to be an excellent officer diligent and dignified in all his pursuits. he was just a few months older than you. There seems like a syndrome in our society, don't know why, I guess money cannot simply buy happiness and contentment. You were a contented gentleman. You had honesty and diplomacy within yourself, especially when negotiating peaceful conclusions with others. A lover of life, a peacemaker whose bravery, valor, and courage was the example and legacy you instilled in all persons. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 24, 2015
Cooling off folks when tempers become frayed is only one of a police officer's basic duties. We, the common person probably cannot fathom how much work goes into becoming a top flight police officer. How much it can be a struggle to survive just the basics that are taught at the police academy. When you decided to become a police officer, Officer Cook, I'm sure many things were floating around in your mind. But mind you, you were an excellent and well behaved individual who displayed the good qualities right away. There would be no need for prodding or additional motivation. You stayed on an even keel and kept producing outstanding work. Far superior to most men and women who shared the same purpose and goals as you did. Everyday was about honesty, integrity and dignity embedded within your badge and uniform. May 16, 1979, showed your true character, its boldness, strength and calming influence even in the face of danger. There was no looking back. The bravery, courage and valor was your legacy shining forth and providing the necessary continuance of all our lives at the cost in the line of duty of one tremendously gallant and cherished young man. You were there Officer Cook, serving and protecting Dade County and its residents. Forever remembered and duly saluted for your loyal and faithful service. An excellent public servant who exemplified how we lead and live a proper and fitting life and perform a job that calls for every ounce of both rational and common sense approaches. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Though your time here in this world was short, Officer Cook, your humbleness and humility will last forever and can never be interrupted by any form of wanton violence that took you from us, your family and comrades and close personal friends. You are greatly missed by my family and myself. When walking by your old block, I stop and doff my hat to remember your righteousness and heroism, we don't witness everyday.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 23, 2015
At times showing kindness requires that we take harsh measures to solve a problem. You were a sincere person, Officer Cook, you were decent, dependable and honest. You were open to learn new insights that would serve you and your comrades that much more efficiently. It goes to show us that if you are positive in wanting to achieve a means to a successful resolution, then you keep your dignity and integrity intact. No question about this. No question regarding your superb and superior valor, courage and bravery. No questions of Officer William C. Cook Badge#1664 and the uniform you wore so proudly and humbly with all the loyalty your professional position demanded. The legacy you left for us, your family, colleagues and friends to pattern their lives and careers after was one of resounding and resourcefulness and faithful character. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The commitment we see from our police heroes and heroines is the class, decency and devotion we all come to expect from how your lives began long before you decided to enter police work. Diligence and vigilance is distributed on a daily basis to those who watch and work with you performing very humanely and with great humility in service and protection to the residents who look forward to living peacefully and with a sense of purpose and pride.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 23, 2015
Desire, determination, devotion and willpower, when they meet down the same path they can be a big help to any police officer. No matter what line of work we decide to pursue if you don't have these traits working in your corner, you'll probably not be as successful as the next person. You were successful, Officer Cook and you fulfilled your dreams, aspirations and desires to become a top police officer with Metro-Dade Police Department. Energy, effort and endeavor sometimes can make up for what one is lacking in the above mentioned characteristics A devout individual places their life and hope in the hands of Our Creator, with the trust that He will steer their every movement correctly. Yours, Officer Cook, was guided by your bravery, courage and valor, keeping alive our dreams and enhancements where they need to be focused. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your commitment, your heroic actions were the centerpieces of your loving legacy which will be forever saluted here in Dade County and all around this country. Your character and its reach can still be felt permeating in and around those residents whom you served and protected with integrity, ,dignity and one-hundred percent honesty.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 22, 2015
Predicaments can be overcome by police officers if they practice and patrol their areas of assignment with professional perseverance predicated only upon honest, dignified and scopes within the borders of integrity. Keeping the peace, keeping things functioning in a unified manner was your means, Officer Cook, of being able to do your job with the utmost courtesy and gallantry. Your humility was your respect and admiration you had not only in wearing your uniform and badge with pride and commitment, but in serving and protecting and in service to Dade County citizens in fairness, faithfulness, loyalty and in accountability. It all stands to logically assume you were a most revered and treasured hero whose swiftness to react to any given problem did produce good results and as a result of your outstanding actions on May 16, 1979, you will be saluted for having the character and care to help keep enhancements moving forward, though you should have been given the privilege of seeing them through to fruition. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 22, 2015
Stand tall, be strong, be honorable, be humble and boldly and fiercely loyal and the results in the end will speak for themselves. Your positive frame of mind and dogged determination, Officer Cook was and is the department standard by which all officers should maintain and carry out their official duties. Verbal harassment has no place in any given field of endeavor much less the law enforcement profession. You handled your daily business with only the utmost care, compassion, dignity and always, always with genuine integrity, sincerely considering the residents you served and protected, they always were your number one priority. Only you cherished and courageous effort prevented something worse from occurring on May 16, 1979. The satisfaction our heroes and heroines provide and deliver to all must be completely remembered and saluted as our token of our grateful appreciation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your legacy of commitment outstanding quality of character stands as the foundation for all future officers to build their careers around. Maintenance and maturity equal intelligent and astute leadership. The blueprint to model your watches after in order to navigate yourselves safely around the venues that need unwavering diligence and valued vigilance. Your time with us was cut short by wanton violence, but that did not stop you from fulfilling your dream, aspiration and goal to become the top notch officer everyone expected you to become. God produced a wonderful and treasured gentleman and beloved friend to all in their times of need. You are missed, never will you be forgotten.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 21, 2015
Speaking out when defending an improper action is deemed correct. Speaking badly of others is just plain wrong. We must guard our tongues from speaking falsehoods and our lips from telling lies. Something our parents and those who come from decent and honest families. And you, Officer Cook, along with your sister, Nancy, came from such a proud and morally ethical family. Your pathways in both your personal life and in your professional career were made possible by your parents wisdom and how they were raised. I know your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, may you live and be well out in San Diego, California, you couldn't be any prouder of your humbly heroic son. He will always be your "Billy" or "Bill." Officer Cook, your honor, your integrity and dignity have enhanced all the lives of Dade County residents forever. The sacrifice you bravely made each day, the courage and conviction you chose to undertake, it all stands to reason why you were so respected and admired by your peers. May 16, 1979 stands as your legacy of boldness, strength, resolve and as a gentle and humane character of which you possessed to tackle all the necessary challenges that police work demands upon its heroes and heroines. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 21, 2015
Keep working on your behavioral traits and sooner or later your goals, dreams and life aspirations will be realized. As faithful and as devout as you were, Officer Cook, this was the only way you going to maintain the peace through your humble honesty, dignity and stellar integrity and enhanced loyalty. Police officers before they even start out learning the basics must all recognize the need to stay humble and loyal in all that they undertake. Dade County, its venues, streets and citizens knew they had one supremely confident and self-reliable man holding down the fort where they traveled. Peace and quietness goes hopefully wherever we go and it can only occur when forthright individuals such as yourself, Officer Cook act in a straightforward and caring manner. Dependability and professional demeanor can have the greatest affect carrying one's career only down the right trail. And that was your bravery, courage and valor boldly coming together as your commitment to pride, honor and excellence all around remained intact which it did. You represented yourself and your department in an outstanding and truly heroically responsible fashion and you are to be saluted for your fortitude which remains as solid as does your strength of character which back on May 16, 1979 and forevermore stands proudly and humbly speaks humble tones of both your life and quite accomplished career, though it was cut way too short because of ignominious actions perpetrated against you and your comrades. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 20, 2015
Humility allows a person to be satisfied and yet one must not rest on their laurels. You never were complacent, Officer Cook, you demonstrated to all your colleagues that if you stayed the course, maintained honesty, dignity and integrity then the residents of all Dade County would remain safe and sound. You were a man of great patience who pursued and persevered through a professional career in law enforcement, never backing down or heaven forbid running from evil which was your task to keep the peace steadily flowing. We must stay focused and live our lives as you did with grace and bravery as long as we too live. The goal is keep working on our dreams and aspirations as you so properly did, achieve through proper channels and to remember a heroically valiant gentleman who gave his total effort. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Humanity salutes those courageously humane heroes and heroines who fight a seemingly never ending battle against wickedness through thick and thin never capitulating to those brazen enough to carry out such devious and heinous acts of disrespect against others.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
July 20, 2015
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