Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

We have been massively intervening in the environment without being aware of many of the harmful consequences of our acts until they have been performed and the effects-which are difficult to understand and sometimes irreversible-are upon us. Like the apprentice, we are acting upon dangerously incomplete knowledge. We are, in effect, conducting a huge experiment on ourselves. You contributed to the very welfare of our very society at large, Officer Cook, with your sheer efforts and a resounding resourcefulness. Revered as our hero, my neighbor and friend, rest in peace. The callous acts of cowards can never undermine the consciousness of our brave men and women of law enforcement who travel far and wide in pursuit of liberty and justice for all.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2013

If one wants to become a police officer, they had better be careful and certain that this profession is meant for them. Obviously, there are rules and regulations that need to be adhered to. Respect, honor, integrity and dignity are some of the hallmarks of a profession, an organization of some of our bravest men and women who try to keep the necessary peace and unity in their communities. You were among the many fine officers, Officer Cook, who were bold and swift in reacting to the different situations that arose on your watch. You paid the ultimate price in order for us to live and thrive in an environment of security and safety. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2013

We believe that while survival of the fittest may be a good working description of the process of evolution, a government of humans should elevate itself to a higher order, one which fills the gaps left by chance or wisdom we don't understand. I know and so do your family, friends and colleagues still have a difficult time comprehending your tragic passing. But, they do all realize that you were a hero that day of May 16, 1979, through and through. Others have survived because, Officer Cook, you lived to perform a job, a profession that you loved doing since you were a young man. Change has occurred because you my neighbor, friend and hero were not afraid to bring about this community evolution that we all came to expect. We expect quality service from the wonderfully trained men and women of law enforcement and you expected only the best from yourself and those who worked and partnered at certain times with you. Today, I visited your grave and found it remarkably free of those weeds. Veterans day was today and you, Officer Cook, deserve a grand salute for all your labors. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 11, 2013

The poet speaks only those thoughts that come unbidden like the wind that stirs the trees-and men cannot help but listen. He is not listened to but heard. People, comrades listened to your sagely advice, Officer Cook and it served them justly in helping keep the streets safe. Officers today surely could heed the words of a humbly wise individual who dedicated his heart and mind to policing his community with all his strength that he could muster. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

For voices pursue him by day and haunt him by night and he listens and needs must obey, when the angel says, "Write!" You loving family, friends and colleagues can still hear your soft calming voice of reason and sanity, Officer Cook. When you reached the heavens above, God knew your heroism and your spirituality would enable you to enter His pearly gates to guard His sacred streets. You only and always had the best intentions of the citizens you served with honesty and loyalty with all the integrity personified. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. God's is the Chief Inscriber and all His messages someday may be decoded for us to comprehend. Your voice and that million dollar smile are surely missed, but when you were serving they certainly were very recognizable.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

We call these poets who are first to mark through earth's dull mist the coming of the dawn,-who see in twilight's gloom the first pale spark, while others only not that day is gone. That is it, the day is gone, a new day arises and we look forward to God giving us back our souls that He takes up to heaven to judge while we sleep. You rest comfortably now, Officer Cook, in God's clear blue nighttime skies with other comrades, men and women brave enough to provide the very high quality of service and protection that your profession demands. The mindset, the skill level that is required of all law enforcement must be over and beyond not only reproach, but working very hard in the line of duty to achieve peace, security and unity for all concerned parties no matter the risks involved. You were sensational my neighbor, friend and hero in all these fields and now because of your undying commitment we can rest a little easier at night. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

Read from some humbler poet,whose songs gushed from his heart, as showers from the clouds of summer, or tears from the eyelids start. Plenty of tears were shed over your tragic death in the line of duty, Officer Cook. Lord knows I'm still very sad and upset over your loss as a neighbor, friend and hero to all. Thirty-four years is a rather long time after one's passing, but your service to mankind in the Dade County community will always leave and indelible imprint for all future officers who dare to venture where you so faithfully patrolled. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

There is no more earthly immortality that we could envy so much as a poet's. If your name is to live at all, it is so much better to have it live in people's hearts than only in their brains. I don't think people envy the job that a police officer does on a daily basis for our communities. Unless you ride with them everyday or partake in an activity of an official police matter do you see the big picture of what our finely trained and skilled, brave and courageous men and women experience in performing a highly dangerous job. It takes all the physical and mental accounting and rigorous dedication to make a duly sworn police officer. Officer Cook, you were this determined, valiant and brave person, yes indeed. You did what others would or could not perform. You ventured into an area of your expertise and tried calmly to get a young man to surrender to your comrades where undoubtedly he would have gotten the help he sorely needed. in your pursuits and in doing so, you exposed yourself to the perils of police work, saving four of your comrades and three civilians and for this heroic act you'll always be fondly remembered for generations to come. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your good name and continually enlightening soul will illuminate the world's darkness and help dispel the wickedness that still pervades our society.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

The test of the poet is the power to take the passing day, with its news, its cares, its fears, as he or she shares them and hold it up to divine reason, till they see it to have a purpose and beauty....Then the dry twig blossoms in their hand. It is up to all police officers who shoulder the awesome day to day responsibility to go out, venture and to patrol their communities keeping the citizens out of harm's way and fostering peaceful and unified relationships with all. This was the test of your mettle, Officer Cook, you didn't just do what piqued your curiosity. You bravely and calmly endeavored each moment of your watches to keep us safe and secure, no matter the moment. God's divine power enabled you to stay safe for six bright and brilliant years of service to Dade County and its residents and you will never be forgotten for sacrificing your life and career for us. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 10, 2013

Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, nor time unmake what poets know. This was the one element you did not have to work under, Officer Cook. My dad, Owen, may he too rest in peace, had to labor many cold and harsh winter nights in New York City where he too served as a policeman. I know if you were here today along with your father, Charles, may he too rest in peace, you probably would have the greatest of conversations. My dad's name was Owen Charles Davis, Badge#1541. Sometime very soon I hope, I'll show that badge to Gina and Trevor Wilkerson's three children, Alexis, Skyler and Legend, your two great-nieces and great-nephew, fine children indeed. My neighbor, friend and hero, you were a humbly grand fellow and your humility took you to greater heights, of which you now serve with distinction guarding God's golden roads and streets for others to travel down.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2013

I reckon, when I count at all, first poets-then the sun-then summer-then the heaven of God-and then the list is done. But looking back-the first so seems to comprehend the whole-the others look at a needless show, so I write poets-all. We can all reckon and look back on the lives and careers of all our beloved men and women police officers who were so dedicated to the tasks at hand. Who served with honor, displayed courage and bravery on their badges pinned on their uniforms. trying to achieve one sole purpose and that is to serve, protect and defend our rights, liberties and the opportunities to perform whatever we want to do in life to be able to forge a better environment in peace and unity for our families and within the communities we choose to pitch our tents and to make our roots. You were one of the many talented and determined police officers, Officer Cook, to help see us through the tough times. Your sacrifice today surely proves the fact that back in your day there were many superbly honorable men and women who policed the streets of Dade County Florida and who excelled in effort and efficiency to make this happen. And this my neighbor, friend and hero to all will never go undone. You work ethic is being carried on by many excellent women and men who strive to continue setting the bar of justice at a high plateau as you faithfully did for six solid years of unwavering commitment. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2013

Thinking implies disagreement; and disagreement implies nonconformity; and nonconformity implies heresy; and heresy implies disloyalty-so, obviously thinking must be stopped. You never stopped contemplating, Officer Cook, on your task at hand and this is why you ended up becoming one of Dade County's most respected and beloved heroes of law enforcement. Karen and you set the bar high for us to follow because you worked exceedingly hard and arduously long hours to be the successful couple who invigorated us with the energy level need to compassionately serve and protect. Your dedication is the motivation of why education is so vital if we are to achieve the greatness by which we were created by God to perform. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2013

Fancy is a willful, imagination a spontaneous act; fancy, a play as with dolls and puppets which we choose to call men and women; imagination, a perception and affirming of a real relation between a thought and some material fact. Fancy amuses; imagination expands and exults us. Police officers, all persons young and old, whatever profession they choose to occupy themselves with have very vivid imaginations and it's how we choose to utilize these thoughts that our outcomes sometimes may lie. Your thoughtfulness, Officer Cook, your grace and calmness under duress and stressful situations made you perform at a level never observed in most people. Your department, your division will always look back on your time that was well spent with them in serving the good of the community. Police can pull strings some of the time, but mostly they just endeavor to do their utmost to keep the peace and unity that our environment calls for. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The willful act that took your young life in serving Dade County won't cause the passion of our finely trained officers to diminish the task at hand in protecting the basic needs of our society.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2013

It is a very lonely life that a man leads, who becomes aware of truths before their time. You never led a lonely life, Officer Cook, you were raised and nurtured in a very caring, loving, giving environment and were taught to not only carry the truth on your lips, but in all your mannerisms and that extended to your sisters and brothers within the Metro-Dade Police Department who remember you fondly today and always. You dreamed of doing a job, fulfilling a goal to be the most polite and courteous police officer, yet you were highly skilled and regarded in all your dealings with Dade County citizens. Loneliness is not always a good thing, yet we realize that you are watching over us from above. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2013

We must think things, not words. The saying that action speaks louder than words applies to all police officers and to any person who wants to succeed in making this world a safer place. Your bravery and courage, Officer Cook, propelled this community to newer heights. To put in words succinctly, your humbleness and humility was the compass of which your cherished life and police career was chartered. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your actions on May 16, 1979, will always reflect the manner and character of which you were raised by your loving parents.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2013

Without being demonstrative, you could get your point across to all citizens Officer Cook and perception is more or less the reality of most situations. You dealt in relativity and those who observed you serving them greatly appreciated the sacrifice you made on their behalf. All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream. You were not afraid to dream big or grand ideas my neighbor, friend and hero. You put your plans along with your beloved wife, Karen's into action not theory. Two of this community's nicest people so faithful, fair to everyone and yet dedicated to serving people from of all walks of life with compassion and respect. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2013

We can all perceive the difference between ourselves and our inferiors, but when it comes to a question of the difference between us and our superiors we fail to appreciate merits of which we have no proper conceptions. The really important difference between us and all police officers is the obvious fact that officers perform a profession so vital that it requires skill, both mentally and physically while staying on an even keel with calmness, alacrity and integrity. It's the only way we can rely on these brave men and women to keep us safe and sound in times of trouble. You were a humane individual, Officer Cook and this is why and was the reason for your awesome accomplishments in this world. You allowed each and every person to feel good about themselves without ever relinquishing your police persona and the authority that was granted to you to serve and protect our common interests. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2013

The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true. You were the eternal optimist, Officer cook and this made you the best police officer that the citizens of Dade County could rely on for quality service and protection. Your youthfulness and insight is sorely missed by those who knew what Officer William C. Cook represented. Truth and justice were some of the amalgamations of your humble life and duly successful career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Those of us know deep in our hearts that someday we will see you again. God has one of the greatest angels of outstanding humor, work ethic and optimism to spread around his work.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2013

The example of America must be the example not merely of peace because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing and elevating influence of the world and strife is not. There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right. It was certainly proper and right for you to answer that call of a domestic dispute and to attempt to calm things down without the usage of force. This was your strength and the streets can be devilishly diabolic, Officer Cook, sometimes unforgiving and you were one of the many fine Metro-Dade Police Officers who sacrificed your life and career in order that peace may assume its rightful place in the community. This community misses you more than you could imagine. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 1, 2013

I want peace and I'm willing to fight for it. The way our country is at the present time, my wife and I sure hope our sons will not be drafted and placed in any dangerous spots. Your father, Officer Cook, was a career serviceman, whose dedication and bravery to serving his country and your service were important factors in allowing us to remain safe and secure. You were men on a mission and this is precisely why we enjoy our freedoms. You loved your job in fighting the evil with the criminal element and were successful in large part to eradicating this wickedness from our streets. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero along with your father, Charles. We offer you both a large salute for your accomplishments.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2013

Our first, our greatest, our most relentless purpose is peace. For without peace there is nothing. The people in your area of patrol had and have lived out adverse conditions for too many years. The poverty stricken areas, the buildings some all been rebuilt because of brave men and women like yourself, Officer Cook, who were not afraid to be bold and swift in reacting to whatever dilemmas were thrust upon them. Men and women of character is the first and most prerequisite way for any law enforcement official to get their message through to the community they watch over. The freedoms and liberties we as Americans all enjoy cannot ever be taken for granted, as you my neighbor, friend and hero never took anything for granted, it's how you and your family approached life and its many challenges. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2013

We should do all in our power to hasten the day when there shall be peace among the nations-a peace based upon justice and not upon cowardly submission to wrong. Since your sacrifice, Officer Cook, all police officers in Dade County have been out on the streets aggressively pursuing evil and endeavoring to take it off the streets forever in order for residents to prosper mightily. You hurried to that call and turned out to be the savior of that day of May 16, 1979, saving three civilians and four of your comrades. Your division and department will always be grateful for having you in its midst for your six years of loyal and faithfully solid service and protection. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 31, 2013

No man should think that peace comes easily. Peace does not come by merely wanting it, or shouting for it or by marching down Main Street for it. Peace is built brick by brick, mortared by the stubborn effort and the total energy and imagination of able and dedicated women and men. And it is built around parameters of the living faith that, in the end, men and women can master and to fashion their own destiny. Because of your commitment, Officer Cook, because of your sincerity and honesty, the community which so revered you and respected you, has since come a long way down that so called winding road of establishing peace and unity for all in their community. In short, you made it happen and we will never forget your life and police career which took the community to a new generation and a more higher moral level by which the residents could live their lives and continue to make sustenance for their families. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 30, 2013

Your friend and classmate from Norland High School and the police academy, Chief Geoff Jacobs reflected the other day for a fallen comrade, Detective Robert L. Zore, who was shot in the line of duty and passed away on Christmas morning Dec. 25, 1983. Chief Jacobs, I hope everything is well. Det. Zore and your friend, Bill Cook, Officer William Cook, to myself were dedicated officers who both left an impression that all officers working the streets have stopped and taken notice. Det. Zore left a wife and young daughter behind, your friend and his wife Karen, did not have any children, but as I've reflected, they would have made great parents because of their love, caring, sensitivity and precision in carrying out their careers with loyalty and honor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. I hope to see you in South Florida soon, Chief Jacobs and perhaps we can meet and enjoy some good conversation along with a good meal. My son and wife would love to meet you. I'll respect your privacy and not e-mail you even though I noticed your e-mail address. I wonder if you also found a black and white photo of Officer Cook too. I have a picture of him from the book, "Forgotten Heroes." I cry when I look at his picture and his grave site. Both Det. Zore and Officer Cook were as brave and honorable as any police officer could ever be.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 29, 2013

Peace is normally a great good and normally it coincides with righteousness, but it is righteousness and not peace which should bind the conscience of a nation as it should bind the conscience of an individual; and neither a nation nor an individual can surrender conscience to another's keeping. Your first priority, Officer Cook, was for the welfare of those residents of which you served and protected valiantly. Police officers always or at least ninety percent of the time attempt to settle problems peacefully before resorting to much more serious actions. There is always going to be a fear factor somewhere in that equation and this is precisely why they have to try and stay calm and alert at every turn. You carried this out to the letter of the law my neighbor, friend and hero, you paid a dear price, but we will remember your courage, your motivation, your unwavering friendship in times of duress and distress. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

October 29, 2013