Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

The law of society is, each for all, as well as all for each. No one can keep to himself the good he may do, any more than he can keep the bad. It is not from the top to bottom that societies die; it is from bottom to top. If all law abiding people would just obey the laws of the land, it would not alleviate the need for police officers, but it sure would make their positions a bit easier. From top to bottom, Officer Cook, you certainly excelled in all your endeavors. Bravery beyond reproach. Courage and courtesy beyond reproach. Honor, integrity and dignity beyond ones imagination. Simply put: a cut above the rest. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 30, 2014

The ideal of socialism is grand and noble...but such a state of society cannot be manufactured-it must grow. Society is an organism, not a machine. All police departments are supposed to be well-oiled machines run by men and women of character. You were an officer, Officer Cook, who worked tirelessly to preserve our rights and freedoms. Police officers have a learning curve and yet as they go out on patrol daily due have to adjust to the different sets of circumstances that present themselves, in order to serve the residents of their communities of which they took a sacred affirmation to protect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 30, 2014

The cocktail party or dinner party is, essentially, a fair, more refined and complex than those at which embroidery or livestock are entered in competition but for the same ultimate purpose of displaying and improving the craftsmanship or breed. The cleanliness of the house, the excellence of the garden, the taste, quality and imagination of the food and drinks and the deftness of their service are put on display before the critical eye of those invited to appraise them. Comparisons are made with other exhibitors. Ribbons are not awarded, but the competent administrator is duly proclaimed a good housekeeper, a gracious hostess, a clever manager or, more simply, a really good wife. Your beloved wife, Karen, was indeed a gracious hostess, and you, Officer Cook, were equally a gracious host who allowed many a fine person into your home and life as you were the consummate police officer. You shied away from accolades, you let your cunning vision and skillful mannerisms do your talking and that is why you were admired and respected by so many in your profession. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, God has forever stamped His golden ribbon upon your entrance in His pearly gates. Just keep on watching and looking down on all of us.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 29, 2014

The highest civility has never loved the hot zones. Wherever snow falls there is usually civil freedom. Where the banana grows the animal system is indolent and pampered at the cost of higher qualities; man is sensual and cruel. Women can be this way as well. You did your job with the highest quality of concern and compassion, Officer Cook and did it no matter the matter the time, place or temperature. Of all the cordials known to us, the best, safest and most exhilarating, with the least harm, is society. We have each and everyday, brave people who are not afraid to dig down and do whatever it entails to promote safety and security. You can't say anything better than that. Doing a stressful job, doing it properly with tact and dignity sure states an awful lot about the stellar character of the many fine individuals in the law enforcement profession. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 29, 2014

Solitude is impracticable and society fatal. We must keep our head in the one and our hands in the other. The conditions are met, if we keep our independence, yet do not lose our sympathy. Sadly though, all police officers have to deal with different issues daily that could have far reaching consequences for their families and departments. You helped us, Officer Cook, develop and mesh our independence with all other citizens in Dade County regardless of who they were. You kept a cool head as you went about your daily duties and now for showing your true mettle, you are forever being honored accordingly. The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops-no, but the kind of man the country turns out. This land as sure as I am reflecting, turned out one marvelously fine individual as yourself, humble, lovable and mighty resourceful as you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 29, 2014

'T' is the fine souls who serve us and not what is called fine society. Fine society is only a self-protection against the vulgarities of the street and the tavern. Fine society, in the common acceptance, has neither ideas or aims....it is an unprincipled decorum; an affair of clean linen and coaches of gloves, cards and elegance in trifles. There are other measures of self-respect for a man than the number of clean shirts he puts on everyday. First and most of all, Officer Cook, you were an honest gentleman, a fine and brave soul who defended your fellow brother and sister equality and with the same decorum that is at least expected from all police officers. Your elegance and Karen's elegance was only the tip of the iceberg. You wore your uniform very proudly each day. Cleaned and pressed, starched to the max if you liked them that way, you were not afraid to get dirty or soiled if that was going to keep peace and unity as an everlasting foundation in Dade County. Your last watch, you gave your very best effort and exerted yourself to save others not worrying about blood or whatever stained your uniform if that was going to keep freedom and its cogs on that wheel moving forward. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 29, 2014

The worthless and offensive members of society, whose existence is a social pest, invariably think themselves the most ill-used people alive and never get over the astonishment at the ingratitude and selfishness of their contemporaries. Hopefully, there were not too many of your colleagues, Officer Cook, who resented the way you performed your position in a most honorable manner. The officers who tarnish their badges, soil the good names of other fine men and women, should be weeded out, disciplined and removed from their forces. Honor and discipline need not be mixed with crime and dishonor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 28, 2014

Society is frivolous and shreds its day into scraps, its conversation into ceremonies and escapes. Nothing frivolous about honoring a police officer so driven to succeed because he did all the proper things. You went over and beyond the call of duty many times before, Officer Cook. And every time you performed with the utmost grace, determination, devotion and dedication, you helped to take a large bite of crime off the streets of Dade County. If those officers who do not perform their jobs up to snuff are still allowed to patrol the streets, what then can be uttered about the fine brave men and women who risk their lives for our lives to be free of worry? There is nothing happy about laying an officer to rest with honors for what they have meant to our society to keep it free from harm. You did your part my neighbor, friend and hero, it's high time we did ours. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 28, 2014

I meant to say in one reflection, Officer Cook, that your brave act on May 16, 1979, prevented more diabolical things from happening. Coolness and absence of heat and haste indicate fine qualities. A gentleman makes no noise; a lady is serene. Two lovely and caring folks, yourself, Officer Cook and your wife, Karen who exemplified the virtues of kindness and hospitality. You both let your humility do your talking as you conducted your professional duties. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. officers need to stay as cool and as calm as possible. You gave your life on a hot day with someone whose temper was even tragically hotter than the thermometer that day.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 28, 2014

Introduce a base person among gentlemen; it is all to no purpose; He is not their fellow. Every society protects itself. The company is perfectly safe and He is not one of them, though His body is in the room. Society will pardon much to genius and special gifts, but, being in its nature a convention, it loves what is conventional, or what belongs to coming together. As a man of love and peace, Officer Cook, you were slow to anger and plenty resourceful in kindness, compassion and in passion for doing a job you loved since you were a young man. Your life and career were a destiny in which all the I's were dotted and all the T's were crossed, nothing ever out of place. A man of responsibility whose mission was to provide first class service to all citizens. Life itself is that greatest of journeys in which we trust in God to faithfully steer our coming and going, hopefully with this heavenly help we shall not falter. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 26, 2014

Civilization degrades the many to exalt the law. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better security of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs. Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other. The various police departments are the stock companies, its citizens who are served and protected by them are the shareholders who have a great stake in how officers such as yourself, Officer Cook worked feverishly to save, unify and allow them to live their lives as you would want to live yours. You only had the best interest of Dade County in your cross hairs at all times during your watch. The finest officers work here in South Florida and you were humbly stated among their best and most seasoned of them all. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We can't thank you enough for your undivided and loyal service to those who relied upon you the most.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 26, 2014

We should be judged not by our acts, but by our temptations. The biggest transgression might be construed as sitting on your behind and not taking proper action when called or not called on. God must have rolled out His golden carpet for you, Officer Cook. For what you meant to our society personally and professionally how can you and your comrades be judged any differently? Heaven awaits its humble heroes and heroines who go above and beyond the means of their positions to assist Him in securing our streets the way you promptly did for six years. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Thank God, Officer Cook, you were a gentleman and officer of action. Reaction is always going to be a factor in the total equation of how we might be judged in the end.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 26, 2014

Some people spend their whole lives, from their infancy to their dying day, in going down the broad way to destruction. You spent your whole life from infancy until your last watch, Officer Cook, performing wonderful things on behalf of the entire world. I still cannot fathom why that young man acted so irrationally that day. With three generations leaving under the same roof as him, you would think he could have been steered in the proper direction, channeling his energies toward a positive outcome. One never knows what is lurking in the minds of others. After all, police officers while they serve many duel roles that come with numerous responsibilities cannot serve as doctors who can analyze and prescribe medication that can make people act normally. Your amazingly brave act, Officer Cook, prevented more diabolically things from occurring. Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all. Thank God you were a person who only dealt and spoke the honest truth my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 26, 2014

Concern for man himself and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors....Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations. Your concern for truth and justice, Officer Cook, must never be forgotten. The fate of your comrades who continue your watch can only be enhanced by how utterly well your performed in a supremely humble fashion. Those side panels officers now have as part of their protection are in large part due to your sacrifice on our behalf. The sanctuary helps save sinners, but science seeks to stop their manufacture. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 25, 2014

With the monstrous weapons man already has, humanity is in danger of being trapped in this world by its moral adolescents. Our knowledge of science has already outstripped our capacity to control it. We have many people who are using their educations in the fields of modern science to attempt to develop cures for various diseases through research, sadly too few people of God. As a man of God, Officer Cook, you were His ever so faithful servant who utilized all your God given talents to help fight crime. The personal salvation of your unselfish action has assisted those who carry on your fight to defeat evil. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 25, 2014

Revolutions appeal to those who have not; they have to be imposed on those who have. Repression is the seed of revolution. Our own revolutions have ended the need for revolution forever. We all recognize the right to revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government when its tyranny or its lack of doing what is deemed proper is great and unendurable. I know we believe that citizens have a constitutional right to free speech and the right to bear arms. What we don't have the right to carry out is to use these weapons in any way, shape or manner to harm other citizens. And this was your assignment, Officer Cook, to serve, defend and protect our needs according to the laws of the county, state and community here in Dade County Florida where all law abiding persons shall have the opportunities to live among each other in freedom, peace and unity. And whatever means you felt compelled to utilize in order to do your job, you did by the book that all Metro-Dade County's sworn officers are handed out before going on patrol. Your unwavering and undaunting commitment for justice, law and order brought together in a fair and unbiased manner is what helped eliminate, repression, depression and oppression. The sacrifice you made my neighbor, friend and hero on May 16, 1979, has and always will represent the ideals and foundations which you stood for both personally and professionally. Your legacy is forever bounded by your character, stellar at that, your humbleness and perseverance that has enabled those of us to continue your fight for total equality among all residents. Continue God in this battle as you rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 24, 2014

A single revolutionary spark may kindle a fire that, smoldering for a time, may burst into a sweeping and destructive conflagration. It cannot be said that the state is acting arbitrarily or unreasonably when, in the exercise of its judgment as to the measures necessary to protect the public peace and safety, it seeks to extinguish the spark without waiting until it has rekindled the flame or blazed into the conflagration. That is all it takes, one spark, one short fuse of a person to ignite terror and create mayhem in a community. This is exactly why we employ many fine police officers such as yourself, Officer Cook, to endeavor to keep peace and unity moving together on its cogs and the wheels of justice moving in only one primary direction: forward. Three-thousand honorable and devoted men and women seeking one common goal: Protection and safety through hard work and rigorous training. The physical and mental aspects and challenges of your profession, not to mention your positions mandate full compliance to a code of standards and rules that are meant top keep both officers and the citizens they watch over safe and sound. Hope. We can only hope as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero that your service to those people who respected and enjoyed speaking with you without hesitation have remembered your fight for their cause with a both passion and tremendous compassion. I know for sure your loving family has not, nor will it not ever forget. Your absence only makes their hearts grow fonder of defining who you were and what you represented in the North Miami Beach, Florida city where you grew up. The very fine name of Metro-Dade Police Officer William C. "Billy" Cook, 1953-1979, Badge#1664 will live on in the hearts and minds as we offer a prayer for your giving soul to ascend to the highest heights of God's divine eternal kingdom.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 23, 2014

Revolution is bloody, revolution is hostile, it knows no compromise, it can overturn and destroy everything that gets in its path. They are not just made: they come as natural as the growth of an oak tree. It comes out of the past and its foundations are laid far back. Police officers in your department from the past, Officer Cook, whose job performances were as sturdy as oak trees and who gave their lives laying the foundation for other officers to follow in their paths only knew of one thing, perhaps more than just something: Honor, dignity and integrity and dealing with and in handling all situations that they faced or that would have come their way. They were fearless as well and deserve a hearty salute for their bravery and courage in trying to assist Dade County in its endurance. Nothing ambiguous about your heroic feat, just an ambitious young man whose valor certified the continuance of past and present officers who serve our needs without any doubts or reservations. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, that tall oak tree near your grave continues to grow as does your legacy within the realms of Dade County and all throughout this great land.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 23, 2014

It is not the insurrections of ignorance that are dangerous, but the results of intelligence. If only we knew why to start with why a young man, whose only fault at the time was deserting the Army, then perhaps the investigators could have gotten a better handle on what you, Officer Cook, your partner that day, Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln, your comrades and friends, Officers Keith Digenova and Robert Edgerton were going up against. A man bent on destruction, mayhem, looking to leave this world in a blaze of his "so called glory." All of you fine officers performed beyond your training and did everything according to the law and your department's manual. Besides yourself, Officer Cook, your comrades were heroes as well and every letter of tact was utilized in doing everything you could possibly do. You asked him to surrender, he did not listen to your commands. You had to resort to using your weapon just to defend your fellow officers, despite the fact that Dade County was experiencing racial tensions during that time frame. Above and beyond the call of duty, Officer Cook, putting your life on the line to save seven others, even though a block away and not being dispatched to that scene. Marvelous and magnificent only begin to describe the way you went about your daily duties and made us very proud, even though personally, I wish you were here for me to meet and speak to you. What a great gentleman! Literally and figuratively. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 23, 2014

Revolutions conducted in the name of liberty more often than not refine new tools of authority. Everything that police officers undertake should always be in the name of God for the sake of heaven. They perform a very dangerous job, train for a profession in which one mistake could lead to a dilemma in which there is no turning back. Your fine character, Officer Cook, your humbly stellar performance is something each one of us could look back on and reflect upon it even if we never met you personally. Of course, we cannot literally feel the pain, anguish and hurt your family experienced on May 16, 1979 when you gave your life in the line of duty to enhance forever Dade County's image. We should not be deceived as revolutions do not go backward. You would want for all of us to march on, go forward, we can remember your life and career and realize one day how you and over one-hundred and forty other intelligent and hard-working Dade County police officers made a huge difference as well in their communities. This sacrifice serves as to how we must sacrifice something to make the lives of ordinary citizens a bit brighter everyday. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 23, 2014

Those who make peaceful resolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. And this is exactly why we have excellently trained brave men and women like yourself, Officer Cook, who continue persevering in the battle to obtain and to allow prosperity and unity to rein supreme in this the proud community of Dade County, Florida. No one knows when violence can raise its ugly head, you were there that day to assist your fellow comrades and tragically paid the dearest of prices on our behalf. We cannot ever thank you enough. We try to pay honor to you and your other fallen colleagues who gave their every last ounce of effort in dignity, integrity and grace. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 23, 2014

The ways of Providence are inscrutable and mortals must submit. We wish all police officers could motivate themselves as you did, Officer Cook. This is why you were who you were. You relied on your faith, a docket of doctrines, a book of morals and a book of religion. This is the revelation coming from God's lips, His hands that guide the many men and women of law enforcement, but this book that is filled with many codes which teaches us, as we lead our lives as individuals, taking onus of our daily responsibilities, our own dignities and the equalities we should be guaranteed as free people with many thanks and tributes to your fearless actions. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 21, 2014

Happily the government of the United States which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. Officer Cook, as a man of character, an officer and a gentleman who expounded justice and freedom of fairness for all citizens, let it be known that the sacrifice you made on May 16, 1979, will always be the root that sprouts more intelligence and zero tolerance of any misdeeds or prejudice within the boundaries of all Dade County. You were that galvanizing officer who delivered the most when it was needed the most. When morale may have seemed down you were the one individual whose sense of humor helped lifted the spirits of your division and department to a higher plateau than ever before. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 21, 2014

It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly to implore His protection and favor. If such talents as I possess have been called into action by great events and those events have terminated happily for our country, the glory should be ascribed to the manifest interposition of an overruling providence. It's our sacred duty to honor all law enforcement officers who not only live to retire and do whatever they choose to do, but to give even more honor and tribute to those brave men and women who were forced into an early retirement by the wickedness that still seems to be one of society's ailments. Your ledger, Officer Cook, will always be full of loving accomplishments, a life well lived and dedicated to the pursuits of happiness, peace prosperity and unity magnified. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 21, 2014

The instinct of domination is a weed that grows rank in the shadow of the sanctuary, climbs over it, possesses it, covers its ruin and feeds on its decay. The unchecked sway of clergy has always been the most mischievous of human tyrannies; and even were they all well-meaning and sincere, it would be so still. There are those who thrive on dominating and taking advantage of the less fortunate and this is why we need dedicated and devoted police officers such as yourself, Officer Cook, who each and everyday displayed the proper discipline to ensure that the integrity of your position would be adhered to. You were a man of principle who spoke to others as though you were speaking with God and His attributes were those that successfully guided your life and career and why you took life seriously and reverently. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 21, 2014