Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Chief Jacobs, I too grew up in North Miami Beach near your friend, classmate and colleague, Officer Cook. He was as fine an individual and friend as you all could have known. Your life and career, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero was like a giant globe for all to view. There is a city, Savannah, Georgia where a globe is present when you drive there. Keep watching over those brave men and women who stand guard ready to serve, defend and protect us. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 2, 2013

Tyranny brings ignorance and brutality with it. It degrades men from their just rank into the class of brutes; it dampens their spirits; it suppresses arts; it extinguishes every spark of noble ardor and generosity in the breasts of those who are enslaved by it; it makes naturally strong and great minds feeble and little and triumphs over the ruins of virtue and humanity. Those who wage war and think that violence will only solves what ails us are in for a shocking surprise. Officer Cook, you were the kind of officer who reasoned with all folks and always tried conversation before resorting your firearm. Regardless of your status, Officer Cook, you never scorned anyone or took advantage of your profession to cause any undue harm to the citizens. I know they surely thank you for your fine service. I want to thank you for living life and career with the virtues that make heroes and heroines like you so bold, brave and yet modest and humble. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Our world needs more freedom and unity and this was given to us in large part because of your generous contribution in bravery and swiftness to action.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. Police try to reason with everyone including people who may have temporarily lost their sense of reality. Your achievements, Officer Cook, will not be lost in any way, shape or form of unjust conditions. You stood up to evil and attempted to handle it with grace and honor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Truth is a jewel which should not be painted over; but it may be set to advantage and shown in a good light. You were just that crowned gem of a wonderful man who valued life, Officer Cook and looked forward to the everyday challenges which at times can seem to perplex us. There is no dirt on your being, Officer Cook, only God's rich soil which covers your grave where you now lie at rest. Your soul is like that finely polished diamond that sparkles forever. That dirt represents your being returned to the earth from where you came. Your headstone represents your life's accomplishments in and around your career. You only greeted your fellow man with that terrific smile and easygoing and calm demeanor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Truth is given the eternal years of God because He needs them everyone. You were given twenty-five years, Officer Cook, to make a success of yourself and surely as the light of day you never failed. All your accomplishments have been recorded for posterity and have been earmarked for Our Creator to unwrap when you get to heaven where you have resided next to your father, Charles for these last thirty-four years. You just should have been allowed many more years to fulfill the opportunities of a lifetime in which we all could have been worthy of what your achieved during your marvelous career. Now your job is to keep observing what we try to achieve in good health, peace and prosperity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Truth stood on one side and ease on the other; it has often been so. Answering a domestic violence call when you could have gone back to the station house shows us the citizens that you truly were concerned about their wellbeing. Your partner that day, Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln, Officer Cook, knew who his real partner was. It was God directing the two of you to help your comrades conquer this wickedness by a young man who thought his method of dealing with depression was to harm and take away innocent law enforcement officers who were just trying their best to get him some assistance. You were one officer, Officer Cook, who never took the high road, you believed in tackling a problem head on and using whatever resources were available to you at the time to help bring about a peaceful resolution. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

The mind, in discovering truths, acts in the same manner as it acts through the eye in discovering objects; when once any object has been seen, it is impossible to put the mind back to the same condition it was in before it saw it. Your heart and mind was only conditioned, Officer Cook, to tell the truth and deliver on that fact as a young man growing up and then going to the police academy to become one of Dade County's finest police officers. If only the people in North Miami Beach and in and around Dade County knew that such a wonderfully devoted person such as yourself existed and only cared so faithfully about its citizens. Reflecting upon this just makes me well up in tears. I've always said you won't be forgotten for making sense of the violence in our community and in trying to lessen its affect on others. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Truth is not a diet but a condiment. We live in a world of both positive accomplishments and negativity. God allows us free will to choose whatever we want to undertake. You chose to undertake a career in law enforcement, Officer Cook and it surely never steered you wrong. Why do you think other officers wanted to work with Officer Cook? Because of his honesty, dignity and integrity. This is why you were steered in the right direction growing up and only brought this pride to your loving family. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne,-yet that scaffold sways the future and behind the dim unknown, stands God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own. For your heroically monumental contribution to this world, Officer Cook, you can now rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Keep Our Creator's scaffold from falling.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 1, 2013

Why entreat me, why upbraid me? When the steadfast tongues of truth and the flattering hopes of youth have all deceived me and betrayed me? I guess back in the seventies had I had a background in patenting side panels, your department, Officer Cook, could certainly have used them. That patent would certainly have saved your life not to mention countless other lives. To say better late than never that they were created offers little solace in wake of your tragic death. I google the Officer Down Memorial Page and am amazed at all the deaths and even the accidental deaths of officers who were wounded or killed in the line of duty because of not either having or wearing those side plates. One inch cost you your youth, your life and the opportunity and fervent hope to make many more dreams and aspirations reach fruition. But, make no mistake you did not sacrifice your life in vain, you just were as heroic and astute in all your official assessments as any other officer in your division and department. The truth shall set you free and there is nothing so powerful as truth; and often nothing so strange. Officers give their entire beings for the good of this world their generations are but shadows; yet in reality there is nothing more stable but truth. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero as your wonderful soul continues its way upward to God's shiniest palace where only its light will forever light up this universe. They will be only the shadows of God's supreme heavenly angels now guarding the streets down below where the wickedness in society needs to be eradicated once and for all.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 31, 2013

Hello Chief Jacobs and may God bless you and your loving family. "The true," to put it very briefly, is the only expedient in the way of our thinking, just as "the right" is the only expedient in the way of our behaving. Officer Cook, if not for you being so courageous and brave, there's no telling what further calamities would have occurred that very day. Your friend, Bill Cook, Officer Cook to most everybody else was like you stated years ahead of the learning curve in terms of maturity. Police work is of course not a popularity content, the first to the finish line wins the race. You brought dignity, grace, and integrity and compassion to a profession that today at times sorely lacks these basic components. Integrity needs no rules if you follow a few basic rules that a police department sets down and expects all its officers to adhere to. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Still would love to meet you Chief Jacobs, we can visit your friend's grave at Dade North Memorial Park in North Miami, FL and have a meal together. I know a great deli called Ben's in Boca Raton, FL.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 31, 2013

And fierce through the fiends may fight and long through the angels hide, I know that truth and right have the universe on their side. If everyone that fateful day was on the same page, Officer Cook, you would still be with us. It could have God forbid been your comrades who lost their lives, Officers DiGenova, Edgerton, your partner or Detective Blocker. Officers DiGenova and Officer Edgerton had Our Creator certainly watching over them. Your friend and hero, Keith DiGenova still experiences problems both physically and psychologically because of the severe injury to his brain. I hope you are doing well Officer DiGenova, Officer Edgerton, Reserve Officer Lincoln and Detective Blocker. Your friend and colleague and hero, Officer Cook, you should know that he lived his life heroically and only lived by the truth as told to him by the words of Our Creator. His career in law enforcement was enhanced by his mannerisms and just his fashion of creating good will and unity among all citizens. He made all who knew him very proud. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 31, 2013

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs. Where you now rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, because of how well you not only lived your life, but also how excellently you defended others with truth and honor in an unbiased and professional manner, you can now reap the eternal benefits of a job well done. You had to work your tail off to get to that "top of the mountain," you were the best officer in your day and Chief Bowlin surely knew you were the "man with the plan," who could be counted on to make certain the community and its streets were safe and sound in any and all circumstances.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 31, 2013

Truth, life and love are a law of annihilation to everything unlike themselves, because they declare nothing but God. These three virtues were a vital hallmark of your life and career, Officer Cook. without them you couldn't persevere in any of your endeavors, in particular to fulfill your dream of becoming a duly valuable police officer within your community. God, when He creates us, we are given certain traits or skills which can have a lasting effect on us. You were given certain talents which made you the most humble and yet most successful servant of God. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 31, 2013

Hello Rabbi Davis. Just stopping by to say hello and God bless!

Chief Geoff Jacobs
Porterdale (GA) Police Dept.

July 30, 2013

I like a look of agony, because I know it's true; men do not sham convulsion, nor simulate a throe. We can say with clarity the agony and the sadness your family, friends and department all had the day God took you from our midst. As dignified and graceful as you were in life, Officer Cook, this was exhibited in your sacrifice on our behalf. A champion of human rights, with a clear vision how things were expected to be done and handled in a very professional manner. Your bravery allowed your department to only go forward after losing such distinguished officer such as yourself, Officer Cook. The world was and always will continue to fortify because of your honest efforts to battle the forces behind wickedness. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2013

Truth is inclusive of all virtues, is older than sects or schools and like charity, more ancient than mankind. Charity like most positive traits we learn are first inbred in our souls by our parents. Your loving parents exposed you, Officer Cook and your sister, Nancy to these when you were younger so that when you become adults they were already a major part of your lives. When you and Karen got married these traits continued as you both helped the less fortunate and were able to make an important impact in your community. In both your chosen professions, it was this truth that stood as the test of experience. people serving the public and hospital patients are but just a part of that entity and dignity, grace and humility need to be personified if your endeavors are going to become successful or not. I would imagine after your tragic passing, Officer Cook, Karen continued her nursing career for awhile knowing this is what you would have wanted for her to do moving forward as difficult as one suddenly placed in this position is apt to be physically and emotionally grief stricken. Fortunately, she had a large network of her friends and yours too along with the family supporting her every decision that would change her life. She had to be a very spiritual women to cope with your loss, you too placed your faith in the Almighty to steer you in the direction that enabled you to find happiness and true achievement. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Two truly compassionate and loving individuals coming together as one and it's a crying shame what transpired on May 16, 1979. You forever treasured by all. I wish you could have attended my Bar-Mitzvah along with your sister and parents. Your friendship with my family I know would have been a true Godsend without a doubt.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2013

The deepest truths are best read between the lines and, for the most part, refuse to be written. The truth be stated that no matter how much training and skills police officers possess, getting a handle on crime in this society will forever be a dogma. Officer Cook, as friendly and honorable as you were, I'm sure you had many a trying time in battling evil. You always presented yourself in a first class and commendable fashion and this was no exception even until your very last watch. The watches you make in God's heavenly streets are the ones that now count the most as you observe and assist God in keeping safe all those men and women of law enforcement who stand ready as you were in defending the lives and properties of the citizens of their very communities. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2013

Everybody knows if you are too careful you so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something. In police work one can never be too careful. You just try and go out on patrol regardless of time and do the best job you can do. That is all anyone can ask of its officers. And you were one sensational officer, Officer Cook, highly seasoned and trained to undertake whatever rigors might have come your way. Officers dare to explore where ordinary people would not venture to go. It was a hornet's net that you and Reserve Officer Lincoln found yourselves entangled in and you both performed very admirably under duress. You acquitted yourselves with honor and dignity that sometimes gets overlooked. But you'll always be a Metro-Dade Police Department hero. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2013

When trouble comes, wise men take to their work: weak men take to the woods. When it came down to answering that call on May 16, 1979, you and your partner Scott Lincoln, Officer Cook, could have headed back to your station house, dressed, signed out and gone home. But, you did your job and carried on right until the end. Men and women all bold and courageous as you were Officer Cook, don't often come around that much. when you heard on your radio what was unfolding, you responded and fought to regain a sense of normalcy. Never to be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 30, 2013

If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of trouble. Police officers must always be out there on the streets thinking and planning for anything that might happen. Evil rears its ugliness when one least expects it. You were a progressive thinker, Officer Cook and yet who could have thought that situations like the one on May 16, 1979 would have occurred to you when you had dealt with these issues many other times and came home and lived your life with Karen, knowing full well, anytime and everyday one must be on the lookout. In her profession, she had to be very cautious and aware of her surroundings. Fortunately during your life, my neighbor, friend and hero, you did get to experience happy times and you deserved to see things through with your wife, family and colleagues. There was that proverbial lake for you to dive into and explore much more than than we can fathom. We can think and only God needed you for a more important calling. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 29, 2013

Some of your griefs you have cured and the sharpest you still have survived; but what torments of pain you endured from evils that never arrived. You arrived with your partner that fateful day of May 16, 1979, Officer Cook, you and Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln attempted to help your fellow officers derail a mad young man bent on violence and this was what no one could have seen come, where you gave you young life protecting Dade County citizens as you took a very solemn oath. Your family and colleagues all mourned your tragic loss and promised you they would carry on the work and roads you so tirelessly pursued. A flame of destruction is the fire of construction. This means your work will not be left dormant and your soul will always continue its inroads in overseeing that fairness, justice and unity will prevail in this community that you dearly loved working for. We won't forget, let others not either. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Saving the lives of your colleagues and those civilians means more than anybody could imagine. Kind of like saving seven universes all at once.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 29, 2013

A foot and light-hearted I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me, the long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. Henceforth, I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune, henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, strong and content I travel the open road. You sure do now, Officer Cook, travel this long and eternal road that you paved with your successes both during your life and career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. These were the shining examples of how one endeavors with the talents that God has bestowed in them. You truly were blessed in life, your upbringing, two wonderfully loving and devoted parents, a loving sister and a beautiful and beloved wife who loved and adored you as you did for them. Nancy and Karen were so proud of you and what you represented in them and to a community you served so loyally and with the honor and respect due to its citizens and to you and your badge you worn so proudly. Keep exploring as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You should be proud as I'm sure you are, Mrs. Cook and your husband, Charles, may he rest in peace would certainly be of your son. He is a real Godsend and there aren't too many like him in action and deed. Your humbleness spoke volumes of your stellar character.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 29, 2013

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. You traveled and patrolled the streets of every corner and anywhere where you could make an impression, Officer Cook, on turning back the forces of evil. And you succeeded mightily in all your efforts and now you can help Our Creator as you walk a heavenly beat. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 29, 2013

Traveling is no fool's errand to he or she that carries their eyes and itinerary along with them. I must set forth again tomorrow! With the sunset I must be hull down on the trail of rapture in the wonder of the sea. The wonder of God's creatures is one to behold and this was a good reason for you, Officer Cook, to capture them so brilliantly with your camera. If only you were here to behold these breath taking sights. You are now viewing them from a front row seat in God's sheltered palace along with the other men and women of law enforcement who sacrificed themselves as you so righteously did. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 29, 2013