Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Remembering is a gift, a gift of love passing back and forth among yesterdays, among those that were and those that are. Death can never take away that in which all heroes and heroines of the law enforcement accomplished performing a unique dangerous job with its sole mission to ensure freedom, safety and the unity that all communities dearly yearn for. A profession that calls for all its highly trained officers to act not only in an honorable method, but to tackle different assignments at all hours, all days and under any and all atmospheric conditions. Regardless of time or the season we remember them. We maintain a vigil, Officer Cook, looking back over your stellar life and a career filled with only good things from your department. Colleagues, friends and your family members all can look back as can their future generations and realize that you made a difference and if not for your valor, they may not be here to express these sentiments. Everything we do can be directly traced to your heroic actions on May 16, 1979. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your love for all, your gift of humor, your sense of humility, coupled with your humble maturity engineered your life and the path of which you took to become a great police officer.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 27, 2013

A gentle man gathers honor in all seasons. We get set to fall back, meaning we turn the clocks back an hour and the days get a little shorter. The days, months and years, Officer Cook, never get any easier since your untimely passing. You're always going to be held in high esteem for laying your life and career on the line for your community and the community where we strive to emulate your life and all its accomplishments. You were a gentle man who possessed a compassionate heart, a passionate soul along with outstretched arms to assist whoever needed it the most. The smile and work ethic you took with you everyday to your profession is just the tip of your glowing legacy among Dade County heroes and heroines. Thank God for aspiring men and women of bravery, courage, honor and dignity performing a service to help keep those citizens unharmed and free to pursue whatever they choose to achieve through your heroic endeavors. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 27, 2013

Nature speaks in symbols and in signs and through her pictures human fate divines. Those family members look at all your pictures of you, with Karen, the day you were married, growing up in North Miami Beach, Florida and all the exciting moments of your humble beginning and a life so dedicated to policing our community in your Metro-Dade Police Department uniform. The community that respected and enjoying seeing you driving around in your patrol car doing a job, performing a profession not many of us would undertake. You undertook, you accepted the responsibilities that come with the job and its assignments, you gave your life so others could live. Humbly stated, I cannot ever remember anyone I personally know of who would risk their life to save seven people in one day. I am certain our families, the Davis' and the Cooks met by happen chance somewhere in North Miami beach at either the Grand Union supermarket, the Winn Dixie supermarket, both around the corner from your home on NE 6th Avenue or the Publix supermarket located on NE 8th Avenue. This is the nearest supermarket still in the area today. I'm never bothered by crying after looking at your picture, I always wear my emotions on my sleeve. It still amazes me that my father survived thirty-eight years in New York City as one of its finest police officers, spread over five different decades. Karen, your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, may she live and be well, your father, Mr. Charles Cook, may he rest in peace and your sister Nancy, all prayed each day of your patrol on Dade County streets. You were a true Godsend and I'm blessed to have met some of your family members. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The love you had for nature is a love of any humankind. Just keep on assisting God as He helps those officers here stay safe and make it back home to their families.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 26, 2013

Low, the moon ascending, up from the east, the silvery round moon, beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly phantom moon, immense and silent moon. Up in God's deep blue skies and the heavens above you now reside for eternity. Your soul lights up our skies as you continue on with your watch within God's golden streets. Rest in peace my neighbor,friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 26, 2013

Sea of stretched ground-swells, sea breathing broad and convulsive breaths, sea of the brine of life and of graves not yet filled in, howler of storms, capricious and dainty sea, I am integral with you, I too am of one phase and of all phases. And it was in all phases of your life and police career, Officer Cook, in which you excelled mightily. Be disciplined, be responsible, be accountable and do things right, this is what we have come to expect from all duly sworn law enforcement personnel. You always had that smile on your face, you never let anything or anybody deter you from the mission in which Our Creator placed you and many other brave men and women on this earth to serve and to protect our best interests. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 26, 2013

Come, wander with me into regions yet untrod; and read what is still unread in the manuscripts of God. You solemnly and faithfully adhered to all of God's teachings, Officer Cook and it never wavered. It lead to all of your successes in life and during your brilliant career. A champion for human rights, a man of conviction which constituted the makings of a solidly outstanding and humble path for us to follow. The words inscribed on your gravestone state it crystal clear-"We Shall Be One." unity and freedom for all because of your undying commitment to serve and to protect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 25, 2013

Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels. What nature delivers to us is never stale because what nature creates has eternity in it. What God created in you, Officer Cook, nearly sixty years ago, was truly the coming of man of all ages, a police officer of vision and inspiration well beyond your years, who toiled and sweated for the common good of all people. Heaven has one truly bright and well lit soul of a gentleman who lived his life and days as we should all live them in good health, peace and prosperity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Keep those lights burning until we reunite with you once again.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 24, 2013

Beneath some patriarchal tree I lay upon the ground; His giant arms uplifted he and all the broad leaves over me clapped their little hands in glee, with one continuous sound. You do rest in peace, my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, near very tall trees. The quietness, the serenity of the surroundings all bring back those memories of your wonderfully constructed life and well conceived career as a Metro-Dade Police Officer. One who stood for honor, humanity with humility, grace and gallantry, service with both passion and compassion which we don't always witness or hear about. Your humbleness spoke volumes regarding the dignity and integrity you offered to each citizen whose lives you touched in some way or shape. There will only and forever be one duly lovable and well respected officer who did something that never will go under the radar screen. Rest in peace Officer Cook.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 24, 2013

Yes marshes, how candid and simple, nothing-withholding and free, yes publish yourselves to the sky and offer yourselves to the sea! Through wet and dry, through all kinds of various elements did you, Officer Cook, sacrifice yourself on our very behalf, making sure every person, young and old, rich or poor, educated or not regardless of race was treated the same way and afforded the same rights to pursue their chosen passions in liberty and in peace. You stood up to evil, exposed yourself to this daily and in the end your soul continues to shine way up in God's deep blue night skies along with your comrades who also exposed their safeties on our behalf. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Bold men and women who give of themselves are the stuff of which heroes and heroines are made of.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 24, 2013

There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me, nor anything that moves. I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. Every blade of grass of which your holy being lies beneath, Officer Cook, is important and should never be bothered other than to cut it and the weeds around your gravestone to make it appear respectable to those who visit your burial site. Your soul knows when someone comes to honor you by visiting where you have been laid to rest for your heroic actions on May 16, 1979. You can't see or hear poetry, but your loving and divine soul can hear the winds that blow the leaves of the trees and grass near where you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A friend until the end, with the courage to merge goodness, peace and unity into their community.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 24, 2013

Nature: The unseen intelligence which loved us into being and is deposing of us by the same token. It was your innate ability and maturity beyond your years, Officer Cook, that lead to down a road of success, down the path of passion of which you displayed each day you worked for the good of Dade County citizens. Mother nature punishes us for most sins, but sacrilege, heresy and blasphemy are not in her calendar, so people have to look after them. God is watching over your immortal soul my neighbor, friend and hero. Continue your patrol of God's golden streets. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 23, 2013

Nature encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. There is a major mistake in this statement, in that quite a lot of police killers and to those who have harmed officers, have escaped serious ramifications for their callous and heinous actions. For these families, justice has been hard to come by after many, many years and still continues to be an enigma to those who read and reflect on the lives and careers of the many brave women and men who serve with distinction. You were the example of the many outstanding and dedicated officers who paid the dear price, Officer Cook. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

Nature has made up her mind that what cannot defend itself shall not be defended. You were a defender, a staunch and loyal defender of our rights, Officer Cook. You gave every spark, every ounce of energy that you could summon to help in the fight over evil. It may have taken your treasured life and soul, but it has not dampened the spirits of those determined to carry on with the flames you kindled to spread the light over the darkness that covers parts of us. We have taken charge over your duties and try to achieve them with the same unique passions and compassion that engulfed you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

Nature is an endless combination and repetition of a very few laws. She hums the old well-known air through innumerable variations. If people only could listen and obey these few simple and basic laws, the lives of many brave, courageous and honorable officers, such as yourself, Officer Cook, would not be lost. But this was your undertaking as a young man growing up and you stood up to wickedness each and everyday preserving our lives, our freedoms, our dreams, our hopes and gains as you gave up your solemn life as a quality and highly trained police officer, serving the establishments in and around the Dade County region. Your life has been celebrated and honored yearly for your sacrifice. As a drummer in high school, you now can march to God's rhythmic beats as you watch over us for all eternity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

He who knows what sweet and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man. You knew exactly how to arrive at these beauties, Officer Cook. It was through the lens of your trusting camera which snapped many marvelous pictures of God's enchanted forests. Nature hates calculators and you my neighbor, friend and hero, needed no such prompting. When off duty you just needed to wipe off the little dust that gathered on your camera and begin to relax as you took picture after picture. These photos said a lot and now God has that giant camera ready for you to use as He directs its aim here down on this beautiful world we trust to get the best pictures possible. I try to keep your sacred burial site free of weeds and hope the caretakers provide your grave with the perpetual care and dignity it so requires. The plants, the pinwheels all signify life continuing, the life you faithfully lived and served bravely to maintain for all others. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

There are no sermons in stones. It is easier to get a spark out of a stone than a moral. From the words, "We Shall Be One," as inscribed on your gravestone, Officer Cook, says a whole lot of your life, one lived properly in deed and in usage of proper speech. God created this world not for His sake, but for our sake and for us to strive to emulate His ways. What might be some of His ways? Doing good deeds, proper speech as shown in our work ethic. and of course we mean by this, trying to get along with others to co-exist with them in a peaceful manner. Obviously, if you work in a large police department, you come across men and women from all walks of life and working with them in an honorable and dignified fashion to serve and to protect those citizens of which you all took an affirmation to look after. Humility is brought about when we all start caring for one another, being one nation, with one God that surrounds the four corners of this splendid universe. Police officers are like any other person, in that they too possess feelings and to get along better with them, since they risk their entire beings for our welfare, our communities need to stay in touch with one another on a continual basis. The young man who took your innocence and life needed help, there is no question about this and only if someone could have reached out to him before this whole crisis unfolded, well we can only speculate the outcome might have been different in that no lives would have been ruined by his heinous activity. Make no mistake, your actions, my neighbor, friend and hero, your attempt to calm his him with your voice before resorting to using your weapon would have been great. Your heroism speaks louder now from your final resting place than at any other time. You tried to stop this wickedness from spilling out onto the streets where you patrolled for six solid years of unwavering commitment and truly made a difference in that you saved seven people, four of whom were your fellow officers. You mission by which you were place don this earth by God was served with grace and honor and has been and forever duly noticed. William: Savior and Benevolent One. You were this right until the end: Officer William C. Cook: Badge#1664 A Dade County Humanitarian for all time. Rest in peace. The moral of your story is to always act with morals and one can never be wrong in trying to accomplish success.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

Loveliest of lovely things are they, one earth that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its one hour is prized beyond the sculptured flower. The loveliest of people, the honest of all officers, Officer Cook, for your twenty-five years of life and a career so treasured, you were the rose whose scent has never disappeared. Your loving spirit always has and will never evaporate from those loving family members and friends who remember your battles on the streets and your sacrifice in the name of God and the citizens of Dade County who relied on you for excellent, prompt and loyal service. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 22, 2013

I want a wife affectionate and fair, to solace all the woes of life and all its days to share; of temper sweet, of yielding will, of firm yet placid mind, with all my faults to love me still, with sentiments refined. You complemented each other so well, Officer Cook, you and your beloved wife, Karen and for what you had to endure to become what you dreamed of always wanting to be, Karen and the rest of your family misses you very greatly. It's still hard to imagine thirty-four years have passed since your untimely passing. Your memory has not nor will it ever be just a passing moment. I never had the opportunity to ever greet and meet you, you'll always be held in high esteem with the respect your heroism calls for. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Two people so meant for one another, so caring for each other, so devoted to their passions in life, your life was one of tremendous success, it's hard to imagine it being replicated by anyone. Those who devote their moments to success will only be rewarded in the end by Our Creator.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 21, 2013

You were a sure officer of certainty, a doer by definition and an integral part of his department and division. Officer cook, you displayed friendliness towards all citizens which has never been lost in translation. The talents you had transferred to the streets of Dade County where you excelled in its service and protection. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. A man of courage, vision and intellect, who engineered the passion and compassion which is sorely missed today and everyday.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 21, 2013

Man's conclusions are reached by toil. I'm no better than the best and whether worse than the rest of my fellow-men who knows? The truth be said, you were among the best of the crop of officers during your time, Officer Cook. The problem is all officers should strive to emulate your traits and do it with respect, grace, dignity and honor. Stand up, take the onus upon your shoulders, which is only what you did in your life and career. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your sacrifice was only due to a man of true convictions, who never compromised the integrity of any investigation.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 21, 2013

Your loved ones continue doing good deeds as you did during your life, Officer Cook. Shallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances....Strong men believe in cause and effect. Luck plays a part in most everything in life, but it is those who take the pains in achieving whatever challenges lie in front of them that usually find the most success. You accomplished my neighbor, friend and hero because of the hard work that you put in, in willing to sacrifice your life for our benefit. If the fortunes of that fateful day of May 16, 1979 could have changed, we all would be very happy. But those who knew your work ethic and perseverance, respected you a lot will never forget you or the loved ones you left behind. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 21, 2013

And all things that were true and fair lay closely to my loving eye, with nothing shadowy between- I was a boy of seventeen. When you were seventeen, Officer Cook, I believe you were just starting out your career as a Dade County Public Safety Officer and when you turned twenty you joined the ranks of the Miami-Dade Police Academy at Miami-Dade Community College North Campus. It was there where you learned your lessons well that would serve you quite well during your life and career on the streets of Dade County where the momentum of your feats stands out today as large as that everlasting smile. The skill, grit and determination you brought to your department and division is the benchmark by which all future Metro-Dade Police Officers strive for this same quality in service. Never to be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Through your sacrifice, Officer Cook, the one fairness given to all officers are those side-panels attached to the bulletproof vests, that should have been an integral part of your equipment during your time. Some dream, most desire, but to those unafraid, they achieve mightily beyond our hopes and efforts.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 20, 2013

For still in mutual sufferance lies the secret of true living; love scarce is love that never knows the sweetness of forgiving. As true a gentleman as you were, Officer Cook, so lovable and caring, so humble and loyal, there can never be anything scarce other than those who miss you so dearly. The price you and your forty-one other Metro-Dade colleagues paid for our liberties can never truly be repaid to you, so we gather and take a moment out of our busy lives to reflect back on your time as an officer and a life so endearing to those whose beings reached across and shook hands with you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 20, 2013

Love is born of faith, live son hope and dies of charity. This I have known always; love is no more than the wide blossom of which the wind assails, than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales; pity me that the heart is slow to learn what the swift mind beholds at ever turn. All law enforcement officials who sacrifice their lives in the performance of their duties all have this certain bond of love and faith that surrounds them and their families. This was your make up, Officer Cook, your DNA, you never left your house without it. It served you well for six years and much more in all your endeavors. The breeze blows the leaves where you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and the silence can be deafening, but let no person make the mistake, only someone so brave lies in the hallowed ground beneath. Your charitable deeds forever follow you have traveled. Your loved have continued setting this example in your honor. You would be very proud of them.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 20, 2013

So blind is life, so long at last is sleep and none but love to bid us laugh or weep. When brave men and women like yourself, Officer Cook, give up their lives, there is always something not right with that equation. We may gain an insight as we grow older. Your family wishes you were given that chance to grow older as you had so much more to give back to your community. Most of your comrades who went to battle with you each day to gain an upper hand in this fight we call a war, remember your smiling persona and the proudest confidence that you so often displayed. Your memory is their legacy of which we can all remember you by even the lay people, the citizens you took pride in serving and in protecting. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, sleep comfortably in God's shade where those comrades can gather from time to time to pay you homage for a job well done.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 20, 2013