Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Always strive to be your best each day. Look at it as another opportunity to make the world a better place. If police officers ascribed to this theory then perhaps some would not go off course in terms of honesty, dignity and integrity which are paramount tools in performing one's job of serving and protecting. Lacking the wisdom to make correct decisions can surely lead or cost someone their life God forbid. Officer Cook, you never were lacking in anything as humbly stated by your friend, Chief Jacobs, you were years ahead of the crowd in terms of maturity and intellect, everything you did on behalf of all Dade County residents served to make them more secure, more at rest, more at ease and more unified. Yesterday, there was an article in the Miami Herald regarding the McDuffie incidents and the riots in Dade County that ensued in 1980. Your former boss, Chief Dale P. Bowlin was mentioned as was the former director of the Metro-Dade Police Department, Bobby Jones. If you were still on the force those were your colleagues and even though they were acquitted by a jury in Tampa, Florida where the trial was moved, there was plenty of wisdom and whatever else lacking. You were a good person. You were a humanely faithful and loyal public servant. You were tremendously devoted, determined and dedicated to your profession and of course to your lovely family and beloved wife, Karen. It was your heroic actions of bravery, courage, valor and commitment to excellence that you will forever be remembered for. Your legacy is one built on the foundations of decency, class and strength of your sterling character. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. If there was one wise thing lacking in your day, it would have been sidepanels for you and your comrades. You always prepared and were ready for battle at all times. Evil must be wiped out and eliminated in order for the good of mankind to prosper and to achieve those goals necessary for survival.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 18, 2015

Remember to smile each day. To be thrifty and giving to others. Love your spouse or other family members unconditionally, for we never know when Our Creator will come calling. Live, preach and practice the values and scruples in life that your parents helped to instill in you. Your devout and faithful mannerisms, Officer Cook, have been certainly absent. Though, I do think your family ascribes to what was taught to them. If one lives with the truth on their lips, if one learns the valuable lessons of dignity, decorum and integrity, the chances are very great that they will be successful in whatever endeavors they try to obtain. All in a day's work. This phrase came from the Spring Three One Hundred which honored fallen New York City Police Officers. My father as I've reflected was a decorated and veteran officer there for thirty-eight years during a time in which no officer wore vests, they didn't have them then. How my dad survived all those years when about three-hundred officers were killed doing a job they loved and relished performing. My mother must have been praying a lot. We said prayers for her for when I was seven months old, she suffered burns severe enough on her body that required skin graft surgery. I lived with my aunt who took care of me. Fortunately, Officer Cook, I did not end up an orphan. Your sacrifice left a wonderful and beloved wife, Karen, a widow, without her loving and wonderful companion. A sure gaping hole in your family's hearts. The pain and anguish of your mother, Mrs. Cook, was etched on her face as you were the second member of your family to pass after your dad, Charles, passed in November, 1976, may he rest in peace. You lived as a hero and left us all too soon as a hero in bravery, valor and commitment to excellence excelling in protecting and serving the interests of Dade citizens helping to guarantee their dreams, aspirations, liberties and unity. Your principles of good character, outstanding work all stand for a very humble legacy that shall endure forever. Your mother has lived a long and healthy life for many reasons, foremost, her health, her religion, her values and everything good about life an dhow she has raised her children to become accomplished and honest. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. When our women and men of law enforcement give everything to the causes of peace, there can be nothing better to ascribe to and it is in their memories that we carry on with their legacies and all the wonderful and prosperous things they have achieved through loyalty and good old fashioned hard work. Forced retirement was and should not be any part whatsoever. They deserved to live out their lives, dreams and whatever with their spouses and families. The pictures in that magazine of officers being saluted at their Inspector's Funerals give us the goose bumps and makes you think about the value of life and their professional careers. The scope of things is all too broad, but, I think we can recognize what they meant to this world as you, Officer Cook, meant to the Dade County community where you were honored, revered and admired.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 17, 2015

First of all, hope you and your family are doing well Chief Jacobs. Hope you are enjoying retirement. I can say I'm glad my dad, Owen Davis was able to enjoy his retirement from the New York City Police Department where he worked for thirty-eight years spread out over five decades. I visited your friend, classmate and colleague, Bill Cook's grave last week as I do periodically. Seeing that you wanted to become a police officer from the time you were a little boy Officer Cook, you made certain you followed all the right things in order to achieve your goal. You had a penchant for perseverance and diligence. You carried yourself with the epitome of class, decency, decorum, honesty, dignity and integrity at all times. Hard work usually pays dividends to those who ascribe to this axiom. You were motivated to stand up to evil and to serve and protect all Dade County residents with bravery, courage, valor and the commitment to pride and excellence. I found out recently Chief Jacobs that your friend, Officer Cook's mother, Mrs. Julia Cook is still living out in San Diego, California where she is God bless her, ninety-nine years old. September 17th of this year God willing she will be celebrating her 100th birthday. Don't know if you ever had the humble honor to meet her, the Cooks were my neighbors in North Miami Beach, Florida as my family lived around the corner on NE 6th Avenue and 179th Drive. Would look forward to meeting you one day when you come to Florida you can come over to our home for a meal. Any friend of Officer Cook is a friend of ours. I wrote a letter to his mother in 2010 when I lived in Hallandale Beach, Florida with my family and five days after she turned ninety-five she wrote me back a very wonderful and sentimental letter. I cried. I was in her home in January of 2012, playing soccer with her great-grandson, Legend Wilkerson. I showed his mom, Gina, her uncle's picture on my phone and started sobbing like a baby. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. God bless you Chief Jacobs. I can also take you to visit your friend's grave. He played tennis, maybe we could play tennis too? Your vigilance has validated your heroic legacy, Officer Cook, we will never forget your professional accomplishments. I think of Officer Cook everyday, Chief Jacobs just as I do of my parents who have passed on. When a comrade is taken suddenly, doing their duties, the pain never seems to go away. He had many more years left to fulfill and should have been able to retire and earn his pension. He had a wonderful wife, Karen and things were looking marvelous. Sometimes, we ask why God takes an angel to serve up in heaven, your friend was a humble and treasured gentleman with a heart of gold to match.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 17, 2015

Greetings Bill! Wow! You sure have missed a lot! But, I'm sure it's nothing in comparison to what you've been up to for the last 36 Earth years.
Please tell God that we are ready and waiting!

Chief Geoff Jacobs, Ret.
Snellville (GA) and Porterdale (GA) Police Dept.

May 16, 2015

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
God Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

May 16, 2015

Money given to charity must be given for honest means. The stained glass window that was donated to the Visitation Catholic Church where you, Officer Cook and your beloved wife, Karen worshiped was given with class and honor by your hard working and beloved companion in life and its pursuits of happiness, peace and unity. After all, Karen worked in a profession just as you did, Officer Cook, where honesty, dignity and integrity go along way in determining how a patient is going to recover from any illness. Your challenges in protecting and serving Dade County residents was why you chose you given line of work. You must be patient, you must be devoted, you must keep a sense of awareness with you at all times to keep from being lost or straying from your pathway of decency and righteousness. All an officer's energies must be directed and channeled into the hopes and aspirations of citizens who expect nothing less than an honest day's effort. The proper motivation and mindset must be sterling and impeccable while keeping bravery, valor and courage along with the commitment to pride and excellence close to your chest. Your wore your uniform humbly and so it is on this day we rise and firmly salute and honor your unselfish sacrifice on behalf of all mankind. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 16, 2015

We feel different emotions for whatever the moment brings us. Sympathy. Empathy. Loyalty. Compassion. whatever the case, whatever the situation, it was always handled with the professional reliability and epitome of class, decency, honor and dignity. You were there, Officer Cook, on our behalf for all seasons. Your last watch today, thirty-six years later serves as the impetus for us to go out into this world and act accordingly as you strived to accomplish each day of your life. Maybe, had you known more about Mr. Pearsall, the young man who tragically ended your life, you might have found some compassion, I guess his family may have sought help for him, we don't know. What we do know is your heroic actions on May 16, 1979, saved at least seven lives your comrades and possibly countless others. Your bravery, courage and valor were and continue to stand humbly tall among those police heroes and heroines from the Dade County community who left us too soon, yet left their legacies intact as the cornerstones of their unwavering and faithful service in protecting and in serving, which has enhanced the continuing instillation of profound liberty, peace and unity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Mr. and Mrs. Cook, you raised your two children, Nancy and her brother, "Billy", Officer William C. Cook to my family with all the right and proper characteristics that should and did allow them to succeed in their lives and careers. Your son's sacrifice serves as a reminder of what it means and defines us as truly heroic, truly outstanding, truly magnificent. His stature as a police officer has carried over to those who have succeeded him and to his family members who take his cues and live, lead and succeed in their lives by his examples. At age ninety-nine Mrs. Cook, you should stay healthy and realize, you already do, what your son meant to this society. I visited his grave last week and removed some weeds from his gravestone. Be well. God bless you Mrs. Cook. The stones I place down represent that his soul knows I have visited.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 16, 2015

Since you were a fair and unbiased officer, Officer Cook, no one had to ask or offer up any questions regarding your sound character which should serve as the backbone of one's life and the career which they choose to pursue. The areas that were patrolled by your vigilance which assisted the residents in sticking together in unity and with a peace of mind all were done with total honesty, dignity and integrity, all professionally served. Nothing should cause an officer who is supposed to show care and consideration to what they wear and how they comport themselves. Your heroic soul continues lighting up our skies which at times are filled with gloom and despair, so keep watching from above my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace. Love is blind for all we know, our hearts will grow for all we know, that's what the man says. Something to that affect. You were passionate, compassionate, respectful and had a solid dose of admiration, now it's time to give some back to you. You revered Our Creator and relished the thought of serving Him. You did so fearlessly, loyally, faithfully and with a renewed devoutness, determination, desire and unwavering dedication to all calls of duty. Just wish you were still here with us celebrating your family's milestones and playing some tennis with me. I really need the running. I know you kept up and were in constantly excellent shape. Your mind and body functioning as one unit. An esteemed colleague to all. A mountain of a man with the charisma to match. Never to be forgotten for your humbly heroic actions on May 16, 1979. Never. Never. I'm always here for your family, they have become a part of my family. They are classy people like yourself. North Miami Beach, Florida hasn't see the likes of someone so respected as you were, probably will not occur ever again. There are just some things that happen once in a lifetime. You were a Godsend, plain and simple, like that million dollar smile of you in uniform in 1973 behind Old Glory.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 15, 2015

Police officers, good women and men of sound minds and logical thinking have to be able to summon the necessary courage to act appropriately in order not to stray from the proper pathways in life and of course during one's professional career that must be highlighted with decorum and decency. Your role, Officer Cook, took its genesis many years before you joined the Metro-Dade Police Department. The upbringing you received from your loving, kind and very giving parents was what characterized your career. A career graced with all the mandatory essentials, honesty, a sense of dignity and an enhanced awareness of integrity. The strength one must muster up to positively shape our lives must come from deep down. You possessed a reservoir of hope, trust and optimism and it never left you while you were out on Dade County streets patrolling the welfare, peace and unity of all citizens. a cherished, humble and a most treasured public servant, rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. With what walks around our streets today, your valor to command and instruct is greatly missed. The Miami Beach Police Department is suffering from police toxic shock syndrome, meaning police officers who send electronic mails that are littered with racism, bigotry and whatever else is corrupt and despicable. If you were the Chief of that department or your friend, Geoffrey Jacobs were the top police officer you would be doing a top to bottom housecleaning, no and ifs or buts. Everything would be weeded out. One of these officers was a major, I believe they should be held accountable, you wear a uniform proudly and humbly, and carry a badge, one should be reliable and responsible to the people they serve and protect. You were a good man, Officer Cook, you wouldn't tolerate this sort of behavior from your colleagues if they are under your command. Something must give. Lately, police have come under the microscope of national scrutiny.You will always be noted, saluted and remembered for your character and class. No doubt about this ever!

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 15, 2015

Sincerely can make a person mighty humble, it can humble the most hardened of people. Common sense and logic also can travel a long way. Police officers are those specially trained and determined public servants who endeavor to reach out to all parts of a given area, community where they serve and protect the common goals of its citizens who are entitled to the same rights of calm and unity as are any other individual. Your professional role, Officer Cook, that you willingly and without recourse accepted upon yourself freely was to be honest, loyal and quite resourceful in helping resolve conflicts between others, to ward off violent crimes, whatever was assigned to you at any given moment. You were superior in those challenges placed before you. You were courteous, caring and considerate to all. You were filled with sterling and pristine honesty, dignity and integrity. Your bravery, courage, valor, boldness to the commitment of excellence were all the reasons you have been fondly remembered for your heroic actions on May 16, 1979. Certainly, all of Dade County will honor and salute your life and career and all that it stood for as you were as cherished inspiration to all future officers who persevere and try to emulate your actions publicly and privately. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were righteous and sincere in all your deeds, that has long been how many of your friends have remembered you and for this you'll never be forgotten.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 14, 2015

Delivering due diligence through good deeds, your service to all of Dade County residents, Officer Cook, was appreciated beyond any doubts. Character, charisma all came together at crucial moments enabling you to succeed in both solving and in resolving any troubles that might have arisen. But it all begins with your ethical take on life, your discipline, your behavior, honest and trustworthy, your dignity and of course where some careers start and some go astray, because of a lack of integrity. You were a talented and a treasured public servant whose legacy will always be resting in the hearts of all who knew you. Residents could rest a bit easier and stay focused on their missions, desires, dreams and aspirations because of your unselfish and unwavering commitment to sacrifice your entire being in the name of justice and fairness, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace. Whatever the job required you were there to get it finished, no fence straddling. You were a humbly born leader whose destiny would have humbly taken you up the ranks of your department. No one forgets a hero. Your life growing up in North Miami Beach, Florida means a lot to me and my family. I am humbled to visit your grave and offer a prayer for your cherished soul, it still lights up our world this today and forevermore. Mrs. Cook, Nancy, Karen and Gina, Trevor, Justin and Josh, I will always keep you and your son, brother, husband, uncle and great-uncle "Bo" in my thoughts. Officer William Coleman Cook, Badge#1664 will be remembered for his grace, gallantry, loving and giving heart. A heart of gold. A keen vision of valor. A logical and sensible human being and a police officer of intuition, intellect and vitality, the kind all police departments look from their brave and courageous personnel. A person's heart is measured by their character, yours, Officer Cook, was one of tremendous tenacity and resolve. I think when I take my walk Saturday morning, I'll pass you home on 170th Street, doff my cap and offer you a hearty salute. It's the least I can do for my neighbor, friend and hero. You deserve the honors of the day. Hard to believe or envision it has been thirty-six years, they come so quickly before we know it.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 14, 2015

Perseverance is the act of trying to succeed utilizing whatever tools are necessary to get the job done right. Police officers are those caring and devoted people who risk their lives for our security and freedoms. Dade County has many loyal and faithful heroes and heroines who have laid down their lives for unity and peace to merge together. Officer Cook, you were sent into this world to fulfill a very special mission. And for six of your twenty-five years you were determined, dedicated and devoted to the causes of all mankind. It was all accomplished under the blanket of being honorable, dignified and carrying within your badge and uniform stellar and impeccable integrity. You went out on your patrol looking to mend fences and to repair relationships that might have been broken. Swiftness, boldness and the commitment to excellence and decency were some of the many borders of your outstanding life and police career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. We all can assume, guess, presume what might have been if you were here today. You are here in spirit with your loving family members who miss your smiling presence very much and those colleagues whom either you trained, led or help go to battle with in eradicating evil from this society. You were fruitful and dependable right up unto your last breath. You never gave in or looked away. You means of communicating would be greatly appreciated today and your character serves as a lesson of faith and of your enduring legacy. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 14, 2015

A little bashfulness never hurt anyone. A little respect toward police officers will surely never harm anyone. Human emotions can run high or low depending on the mood swings of a person at that moment. I would surmise, Officer Cook, that you were a pretty mellow person even though I did not know you personally, That in itself is sad. You were a great thinker. You were honest and straightforward. You were dignified and full of integrity. A loyal and most beloved son, brother, husband, uncle and great-uncle. You demanded excellence from yourself and the accountability that is expected from all police officers. You lovingly and humbly went out on your patrols hoping to shape and reform the landscape of what we call living in liberty, peace and in unity. Together We Shall Be One. I capitalize these four words because I believe they make a profound point. They stood out as the foundation of both your humility in life and proficiency in your police work. We live in a pluralistic society and those trusting men and women as brave and as courageous as they are, do represent what we the citizens come to look forward to in those proudly and sincerely donning a police uniform. a friendly greeting, a hello or good day can go a long way to making people feel at ease. You made people comfortable, Officer Cook, this was your style, your manner, your business. You were motivated to bestow kindness upon people, not embarrassing them, speaking calmly and gently. You honored your department in ways most of us could not. You upheld your legacy by firmly supporting good relations among all mankind. With May 16th coming up this Saturday, we should all pause for five minutes at 2:11 pm, think back and salute your grace and gallantry. Dade County has many heroes and heroines, you are all noticeable in your lives that you led by example. No one is born a leader. No one is born a hero. Everything must be humbly earned over the course of due time. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Attach these lessons that you, Officer Cook and so many others in positions of leadership and in authority taught us and I think it will once again serve and protect us quite well.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 13, 2015

Persons who have a position of authority need to act as humble and as honestly as possible. Something we can all ascribe to. Police officers who carry their badges and wear their uniforms proudly need to understand what got them to that stage. You recognized your potentials, Officer Cook and you reached your goal, your dream job by sweat, toil and hard work, not just physically, but also the mental aspects which you were required to possess in order to maintain dignity and decorum on the streets of Dade County where you were loved and respected. The citizens could look back, those still here and were sure thankful someone of your class, caliber and diligence was around watching over them. Your bravery, valor and commitment will never be forgotten. Your heroic actions that day of May 16, 1979, also won't be forgotten. Your humble life, its genesis, your police career one of distinction, loyalty and resourcefulness will firmly stay planted in the hearts and souls of your loving family, your esteemed comrades who you went to battle with daily in this seemingly unending war against evil won't forget you, nor those friends who have remembered your smiling face and kind and likable sense of humor. All a vivid and cherished part of your legacy as a Dade county police hero. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You acted responsibly and with proper and due diligence to all calls of professional duty. No one will ever forget you, you meant the world to so many individuals.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 13, 2015

Perseverance and efficiency would seem to go hand in hand. In any given work or profession, difficulties crop up from time to time. It is up to that particular individual to try and overcome them, based on their character, understanding and vision, something you were born with, Officer Cook. Life is not just about rolling the dice and being lucky. You were a loyal and admired police officer. You were consist in your ethical behavior. Your work patterns were all based on sound reasoning, logic, a calming and most considerate tone of voice. The strongest of your accomplishments were brought humbly and humanely about through good solid integrity, honesty and dignity. These are the ingredients that can carry a person's life and certainly sustain and help surely maintain one's career. Aspirations and dreams are channeled into one central gateway and yours, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero did allow you to keep preserving the dignity, peace and unity of all Dade County residents primed to keep alive their hopes, desires and dreams of a better future, all because of your unwavering and unselfish sacrifice. Evil has been lessened. Enhancement has been furthered and because of your heroic career and life leading up to your career you have been admired, saluted and forever honored for having the bravery, courage to excel and achieve all that you worked and trained mighty hard to commit yourself to in pride and a renowned sense of diligence. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 12, 2015

When trying to influence a person who is sensitive, be cautious not to hurt their feelings. Something you learned well, Officer Cook and its lessons you learned very well. You were able to pass these moments on to other colleagues. They knew you to be caring, conscientious and loyal. They and Dade county residents you served and protected also saw the side of a very humble and decent man, whose honesty, integrity and dignity helped blaze your trails and it was your bravery, valor and courage that helped sustain your character and heroic legacy, a profoundly monumental foundation and cornerstone of both your life and professional career. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Keep watching over us and instilling the love, admiration and mutual respect you had for all mankind. Your due diligence and perseverance has been felt near and far enhancing the lives and aspirations of all. You dreamed, you fulfilled. We dream, we hope to achieve, an accomplishment unto itself.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 12, 2015

Love of others, seeing the good in people and humility are needed for accepting God and His sovereignty. When one views the faults and shortcomings of another person, you become distant from them. When you see the good in them, you become closer to them, thereby, you become closer to Our Creator. You were a humble person by nature, Officer Cook and this allowed you the freedom to get closer to God. After all, you were a very devout gentleman, you attended Mass, said your confessions and were a regular along with your beloved wife, Karen, at the Visitation Catholic Church where you communication skills were a blessing to all you friends and fellow congregants. Integrity, honesty and dignity did indeed grace your home where you grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida and where you resided when you got married. It went wherever you traveled as well as your courageousness, valor and bravery. As your friend, Mr. Michael Dunne reflected you were a good man and a humbly respected servant of God while policing and protecting Dade County and its residents. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your spirit grows as it soars higher each day and so does your heroic legacy with the stellar character and strength to match. Hard to duplicate your feats, but we strive to emulate your modesty and decency as cherished and as treasured as it was. Humility and humbleness are two of the very many traits difficult to master. God just expects us to try a bit each day that we live and breathe His air. Fences have been mended, Officer Cook, by your blessed presence, one that is missed very much. I'll never forget you or your family, nor the wonderful letter your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook took the time to write me. I will say prayers for you Mrs. Cook and your whole family will forever be a part of my family. God bless you. Your son was a beloved man, his gifts to this world have never been forgotten. His calmness and fairness have kept things together not only your family, but for the welfare of all mankind.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 11, 2015

A person of truth will see the falseness of honor and so too a person of humility sees the wonderful acts of humanity merging as one. Officer Cook, you were a special man on a special mission and that was to safeguard Dade County and its residents providing them with unity, peace and freedom. Honor is based on illusion and there was nothing but the truth regarding your humble life and your prosperous career that was headed for higher steps up the ladder. Only God has these answers and one day maybe we can find out the reasons as to why He took you home with so much more to fulfill. He takes those decent and honorable men and women of distinction, people with wisdom, keen vision, stellar dignity and integrity to now patrol His golden streets where no harm will ever come your way. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You never ran from anything, evil or whatever. You were humbly rewarded for all of your professional endeavors and now for laying down your life, you deserve any and all salutes of bravery, courage and valor that come your way. From those who knew it was a humble honor knowing and admiring a most respected hero in both their life and in their professional career.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 11, 2015

Bill, it has been many years, but i still remember you as a friend when you were guarding the doors of Jackson Memorial hospital, and i would come racing towards the ER with my siren blaring, bringing yet another trauma victim to JMH. We talked many days & shared some good times & 36 years later you remain in my heart a s a good man. May you forever rest in peace.

Michael Dunne
friend

May 10, 2015

Burnout is a large part of police work and obviously must be avoided whenever possible. Officers are given schedules in which they try to adhere to them. You can only do your job as best as you can. You did your job and performed your role exceedingly well, Officer Cook. It takes a lot of effort and perseverance. First, you were honorable. You were well mannered and possessed a calming influence whenever possible. You were blessed with dignity and stellar integrity. Dade County, its residents and streets were well protected and served by your compassion and positive appearance. Officers seem to have to work under duress, stress and all types of conditions. And yet you comported yourself with logic and reason, this was why you were able to lead other colleagues through tough times, stressful moments. A career and life based upon sound thinking, morals that have stood the test of time. Our parents have been and are this very reason why we are who we are. You were humble, yet successful because you were not afraid to take risks. Your legacy and crystal clear character are these very reasons and will not be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 10, 2015

This morning Officer Cook, I visited your grave and placed a few stones by your grave symbolizing I visited. Today being Mother's Day, I wanted to wish your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, a very happy and healthy day and the best in good health. Because of your excellent upbringing, it's plain to see and to remember the compassion you exhibited toward other individuals. One's closeness to God is dependent on one's love for others. You cared. Your commitment is a vivid message on how we should act toward others even as police officers who strive to meet and protect the public needs. You kept the peace, the liberty and unity in the Dade County community where you were revered by your comrades, you came to their aid and that of the civilians as well. Never to be forgotten for your courage, bravery, honor and integrity, rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were a most beloved and darling son and I know your mother and entire family misses you very much today and every day. You were a Godsend who toiled greatly for the entire nation and citizens of Dade County.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 10, 2015

Using criticism should only be done when its service its proven to be most beneficial. Whenever any officer takes to the streets to begin their shift, caution and care must be applied, callousness and wreck less abandonment must never be shown. Decisions sometimes boil down to what is common sense and logical at that moment. Always, Officer Cook, did you utilize this approach and on May 16, 1979, when faced with a domestic crisis did you have to not only give a command, but you had to use your weapon to protect not only yourself and your partner, you had to protect your colleagues and civilians involved. Toughness and the art of persuasion have to merge at just the right time. Maybe that was a defining moment, you saved at least seven lives while sacrificing your life, though you did not have to answer that call. It spoke volumes of your fine character and of your life lived quite heroically. We are all proud of you, your commitment to excellence through honesty, dignity and integrity. Your valor, courage and bravery to seek out and try to resolve a troubling situation. What more can we think? Whenever a person has the innate ability to notice contradictions and inconsistencies of thought and in action, that in itself is a very powerful tool. You possessed a tool and God given skill garnered through hard work and constant training to assess and to be able to come up with a resolution, a conclusion that would satisfy all residents of Dade County shaping and furthering their freedom and peace. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 9, 2015

Now maybe we can understand why police officers not only serve and protect the public interest, but with our youngsters today who need a little something extra in their lives to help them cope with some of the evils which lurk in our society. Police Athletic Leagues are being set up all over this country as officers go out and preach the importance of good morals, quality of character and sportsmanship. Maybe in your day, Officer Cook, they had this and you were involved. The kind of special person and gifted police officer that you became could only have served as a positive reinforcement for all of today's young people. Because you served humbly, with sterling honor, decency, dignity and enhanced integrity, you would have been perfect for this role. Thank God for giving you to us through your loving and devoted parents. For twenty-five years, six of which were done in devotion, desire and esteemed determination how could Dade County and its residents be any more grateful? You put your life and career on the line for our welfare and well-being allowing those of us the chance to continue aspiring to greatness. After all, all of our brave and courageous men and women of the law enforcement profession share a common thread, that is excellence in commitment, pride and honor to be able to wear a police uniform and badge that represents the goals and ideals of each department and community where its officers serve. Now for what you meant as a public servant who gave your life and you are being remembered for helping underscore the meaning of peace, progress and unity you can rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero among all of God's cherished and treasured angels of hope and optimism. Your legacy will forever remain as a vivid reminder that we shall be one and never forget what you stood for both in life and during your heroic career. All of this is greatly missed and why one should cherish each and every moment of one's life as you did taking nothing for granted. Since you were a man of class and vision, accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative was your motto and why you were driven to succeed, Officer Cook.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 9, 2015

As a compassionate person, Officer Cook, it is easy for those who knew you to realize that you were a very special person, humble and lovable, yet when it came to performing your role as a police officer, courage and valor drove your career along with honesty and integrity right where you needed to be. People are suffering and starving, yet we have special people who are not afraid to lend a hand helping comfort those who need it the most. Six years of loyal and dependable service cannot ever be undermined by the heinous violence which took your life and sadly derailed a police career that was headed up the ranks we want to believe. You were a man of vision who focused on what needed to be done.5 Your family and friends knew your mannerisms and knew you were a fierce warrior unafraid to tackle the brutality that threatens our society. Dade County residents can sleep more soundly as your heroic actions were just the genesis of all the enhancements that have taken place in Dade County since your sacrifice. It is truly sad you could not be here today to personally witness these changes. You are not forgotten and very much remembered for standing up to evil, not looking away as some officers do with a "blind eye." Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We suffer from the pain of losing you. Tormented and in a daze over the part of why it happened to such a nice person, a treasured public servant and a devoted husband, son, brother, uncle and doting great-uncle, I'm sure you would have loved playing with your two great-nieces and great-nephew. I met them and kicked a soccer ball with Legend in your parents backyard. They are terrific children. Their great-uncle "Bo" was a loyal and humble gentleman. You were a superb individual and a wonderfully gifted police officer. Retirement should have been part of your plans, Officer Cook. You were a respected and admired brother to your colleagues in the police profession. Alexis and Skyler are two great young ladies who along with their brother, Legend, are destined for only greatness.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 8, 2015

Patience decreases worry. Certainly people do have worries and concerns. Police officers have lots of things to concern themselves with. While on duty all sorts of various situations come their way. I'm sure Officer Cook, for example, you were thinking of your mother's welfare while you were out on patrol of Dade County streets and yet you realized you had a difficult if not tedious job to carry out professionally. Sometimes taking a "wait and see" attitude is the best solution to the problems at hand. Since you were a devout individual, your trust in God assisted you in the ability to master the ability to be patient. Your beloved wife, Karen, practiced this characteristic and it made her sure of her abilities. All the experiences you had in both your life and during your police career enabled you to handle most anything placed your way. First in order to supplement your job, one needs to have honor, dignity and integrity to begin to handle the rigors of the job. Your bravery, courage, valor and commitment are the words attached firmly to your legacy and to your outstanding character. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. No one ever worried how Officer William C. Cook, would act on or off duty. Your cared. You were there to help preserve the dignity of your comrades and civilians who came to rely on your God given talents and skills.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 8, 2015