Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Through this dark and stormy night, faith beholds a feeble light up the blackness streaking; knowing God's own time is best, in a patient hope I rest, for the full day-breaking! There have been unfortunately many a dark and stormy time since your tragic loss, Officer Cook, but we have been able to steer through these times because of how you accomplished this feat many a time. Your soul has taken us where we have never ever set foot and you have been watching and observing our coming and going in safety bless your heart. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

Each is not for its own sake, I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky are for religion's sake. I say no man has ever yet been half devout enough, none has ever yet adored or worshiped half enough, none has begun to think how divine he himself is. I say that the real and permanent grandeur of these States must be their religion, otherwise there is no real and permanent grandeur; nor character nor life worthy the name without religion, nor land nor man or woman without religion. The world does not only revolve around spirituality, it depends upon so many different people from many diverse backgrounds. Officer Cook, your richness and diversity took us to newer heights that we may have never again reached. Your courage to stand your ground in protecting us will never be copied again. Officers like you, so bold and tirelessly passionate about their jobs, give new meaning to what a true patriot is. You were the very best that the police academy gave to us for six years and all in all, you performed splendidly. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul may keep the path, but will not reach the goal; while he who walks in love may wander far, yet God will bring him where the blessed are. because of your honesty and grace, Officer Cook, Our Creator has taken you to newer heights than ever before. The sun shines brighter, the moon much larger and more brighter than ever, all because of outstanding officers such as Officer William C. Cook, who always lit up the room with his smile and congeniality in his service to the public. You laid your life down so we could all continue our voyages into making sure this world functions the way a land should function. You would not want this any other way my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

Often God has to shut a door in our face, so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. Your honest dispensing of justice, Officer Cook, has continually since your sacrifice on our behalf allowed those doors to stay open in order for those of us who want to pursue whatever our hearts desire. Your good nature has fortified our uniqueness and given the onus to us to carry on as you would faithfully have wanted us to do if you were still with us today. There are so many wonderful people who have passed from this world and your loss left all of us bereft and yet hopeful of brighter tomorrows because of your due diligence in service to all citizens regardless of their backgrounds. Your thinking led us to believe we can succeed, if only we apply ourselves more.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

The only faith that wears well and holds its color in all weather is that which is woven of conviction and set with the sharp mordant of experience. Your faith that you carried with your everyday, Officer Cook, was unbreakable and allowed you in all your desires to serve the citizens of Dade County with the proper respect due to them from an officer who was so mild mannered and had that calming voice of reason when the times called for it. Always there, ready and willing to do whatever your assignment called for. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your convictions on May 16, 1979, allowed Dade County one of its last chances to witness your boldness and bravery as you defended your fellow comrades and the civilians caught in the struggle to remain safe and calm. Any officer willing to risk their all deserves more than a simple salute.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

We, on our side, are praying for Him to give us victory, because we believe we are right; but those on the other side pray for Him also to deliver victory, believing they are right. What must he think of us? Not everyone prays, but that is why this land affords the opportunities to be free and worship whenever and to whomever. You prayed each day, Officer Cook, you and Karen were as devout in God as you both were in your chosen careers, where serving the public with compassion and dignity go hand in hand. I know and pray that God has kept watch over your treasured soul and that of your fellow brothers and sisters whose supreme sacrifices were taken with a solemn oath to serve, protect and defend. God never forgets His faithful servants of which you were one of them and we pray that soon violence will be gone and only blessings of health, hope and prosperity will rain over this land. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. In the last reflection, I left out offering communion as well if these clerics are found guilty of any indignity or any other illegalities.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

I have ever judged of the religion of others by their lives....It is in our lives and not from our words, that our religion must be read. By the same test the world must judge me. But this does not satisfy the priesthood. They must have a positive, a declared assent to all their interested absurdities. My opinion is that there had never been a priest. The artificial structures they have built on the priest of all moral systems, for the purpose of deriving from it pence and power, revolt those who think for themselves and who read in that system only what is really there. I have not judged many clergy, but if I did based on their exploits of what I have read in newspapers or seen on the Internet, I would be appalled they are still practicing, offering mass or the confessional. I believe the Vatican, the new Pope, Pope Francis has been looking into clerical misconduct and trying to rid the church of these clerics whose actions have not only affected the world at large as we know it, but the lives of young children and adults. Rabbis, also Officer Cook, have strayed and have also been involved in exploits and the way I used the word exploits above denotes a very negative connotation. How very tragic! I believe if caught any rabbi, priest or man or woman of the cloth needs to be punished to the maximum. Police officers who display this code of conduct would surely be taken to task by their departments, told to turn in their badge and weapon. They would probably be suspended and if enough evidence was discovered on them, they would be arrested, put in jail and then go on trial and very well spend the rest of their lives in jail. People that have positions where young children and the lives of everyone are at risk, if they are caught doing anything not within the confines of the law and do not set the example of fine morals and character should be punished, no excuses added. Your stellar character, my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, was always and only above reproach and you showed all police officers and citizens the truly proper, honest and decent method in which to carry out your professional responsibilities. You would be ashamed of the behavior of these men of the cloth who have brought shame and humiliation to themselves, their families, their places of worship and that is why we know you are truly looking up and down on all of us from heaven along with your comrades who solemnly made the same sacrifice in this world to better our modern society as we know it. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

An honest God is the noblest work of man. I think it should read better like this: An honest man is the noblest work of God. Your fine work as an officer, Officer Cook, is what sets the table so to speak for others officers to operate by. The high standards of morality and ethics which were set by you, Officer Cook, is what all officers need to live by if they are going to achieve and be safe while on patrol. You set the bar high, but you would not have it any other way. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you always gave more than an honest day's effort and because of this, your loving soul is receiving all the eternal benefits that befit a genuine hero, a kind and gentle man that you always were.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

We, too, have our religion and it is this: Help for the living, hope for those who have passed from this world. You gave us hope each day, Officer Cook, while you were out on the streets making certain we were safe and sound. While you were with us you always gave back to the community that you cherished and in turn showed their appreciation to you and what you embodied. The fluidity of your work was the only concept you believed in that would allow you to accomplish the mission you were on during your six years with the Metro-Dade Police Department. We all hope and pray that you loving soul has and will forever rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

The only way you can get into the Kingdom of Heaven is to carry the Kingdom of heaven in your own heart. From the moment you were born, Officer Cook, you held on to this Kingdom of Heaven and never let it go. It was Our Creator steering your pathway throughout your very honorable and dignified life and career. Karen's life with you was always in the Hands of Our Creator as well and that is why you both were very successful in your professional endeavors. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars. You were a very battle tested officer, Officer Cook and your hard work brought to this community with devotion, dedication, honor, dignity and integrity helped you to achieve your awards in humbleness as you just wanted to be free and able to perform your daily assignments as any other officer would. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

There was a reflection, Officer Cook, that I left for you using the word compartmentalize. Being a decent speller I placed an A between the T and M, so I wanted to correct it. I'll say you were probably a good student in spelling in school. I don't know if she was your teacher in second grade at Sabal Palm Elementary in North Miami Beach, Florida, but, from time to time, I drive a teacher who taught there named Mrs. Mollie Rosenberg and her husband Mr. Louis Rosenberg to the airport on trips. She told me she remembered you. Religions are many and diverse, but reason and goodness are one. we can all unite and be able to come together as one in unifying our communities. Being friendly with a couple of priests is one one to share ideas and to be able to work together on inner faith projects. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 15, 2013

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. Your dreams and desires to become an outstanding Metro-Dade Police officer, Officer Cook, came to fruition, it's just a crying tragedy that you were not allowed to grow older to be around your loving family members, your niece, Gina, your two nephews, Josh and Justin and Gina and Trevor's three children, your two great nieces, Alexis and Skyler, and your great-nephew, legend as well as your beloved wife, Karen. You'll always be in their hearts forever and the sacrifice you gave for our security will be remembered for eternity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook and your sister, Nancy will always love you very much and hold your memories in their hearts forever. You were their darling and much devoted son and brother who any parents would be very proud of.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 14, 2013

If a person wants to correct himself, he need not associate with others to do so. If one can remove the barriers of false flattery and social mendacity, he can do a lot better for himself because self-improvement is dependent upon self-motivation. Without the truth meeting the self, any attempt toward self-improvement may lead to nothing more than self-destruction. A modest person, Officer Cook, you took your cues from other officers who exhibited good traits of what it takes to become a great officer and you are not ever going to be forgotten. Revered forever. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were able to knock down the barriers of wanton hate and built up the gates up prosperity in your loving community.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 12, 2013

No people, at the present day, can be explained by their national religion. They do not feel responsible for it; lies far outside of them. Whether or not you believe in any religion, there is and will always be a God, one God who watches us every moment and pulls out His heavenly camcorder to record all our actions. The actions you displayed as an observant police officer, Officer Cook, still resonate through our community today. Continue keeping watch from above. What good deeds you did with kindness forever will remain embedded in our hearts. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your spirituality still beckons our call.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 11, 2013

I meant to say in a reflection that I'll never question your capabilities or intuitions, Officer Cook. Your mind was like a mouse trap, always springing into action. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Problem with some officers today, their intuitions do lead them into trouble and this gets to be very embarrassing for not only them, but for their department.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel up hill, though it be hard and tiresome and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh. For all police officers who make the supreme sacrifice, Officer Cook, their souls travel in only one direction, straight up to heaven, where Our Creator waits with His open hands to greet and get them started in their new assignment. That awesome responsibility is to help maintain calm and peace in this world. You accomplished this pattern for six devoted and loyal years and now as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you continue to be among God's golden angels who spread the love from above.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

Men may believe what they cannot prove. They may not be put to the proof of their religious doctrines or beliefs. Religious experiences which are as real as life to some may be incomprehensible to others. What other colleagues of yours, Officer Cook, may have had a hard time believing, is that you were wiser and more mature in handling your profession than others. I don't know of too many twenty year old people who would want to handle both the mental and physical rigors that becoming a police officer demands in them. But, you would turn out very fine, making all your loved ones and friends mighty proud to have known you as you dealt in your official matters with aplomb. Your experiences from a religious standpoint certainly helped you maintain and to enhance your status as one of Metro-Dade's finest officers ever to wear the badge and uniform while faithfully carrying out their duties. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

I believe in God in His wisdom and benevolence; and I cannot conceive that such a Being could make such a species as the human merely to live and die on this earth. If I did not believe in a future state, I should believe in no God. But, you believed in God, Officer Cook and you allowed Him in your daily life. Even as a devout Catholic, it says in both of our Bibles: To love your neighbor as yourself. The Golden Rule of life by which you lived so meticulously. Respect the other person's privacy which is their sanctity and speak respectfully of others. All of these traits were shown to you and your sister, Nancy, at an early age and it stayed with you for the duration of your lives. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God has your beautiful soul wrapped around His arms, Officer Cook. I know they don't grant sainthood to police officers as they do to popes, but if they ever did you would be a certainly to be given this humble title. You and all your fellow officers who all made the ultimate sacrifice in this world to insure our freedoms. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, your watch up in heaven, is what is now going to count the most, as you help God make sure His officers here are safe and are able to follow through in all their endeavors.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

Reform must come from within, not from without. You cannot legislate for virtue. Dishonesty cannot be tolerated from not only every law abiding citizen, but, the man or woman who has that badge of honor pinned proudly to their chest. After you took your solemn oath, Officer Cook, this was to be the beginning of a long and honorable career even with some pitfalls lying in the streets ahead of you to sort out. Your career of six years was very commendable, honest, filled with awards in your employee jacket for all to take notice of. Evil may have taken your treasured life, but it never did take your shining and prideful soul which long ago made its destiny up to God's safe havens. We all know my neighbor, friend and hero, you worked tirelessly to reform the habits of others and get their compasses pointed on the right track. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

When the appeal is made to the sword, highly probable it is that the punishment will exceed the offense; and the calamities attending on war outweigh those preceding it. These considerations of justice and prudence, will always have great influence with good and wise men. The justice you gave back to citizens was always fair and impartial, Officer Cook, how could you or any other officer perceive it another way? You stayed collected and calm when the approach called for it and level-headed when intellect demanded it. When you trust and believe in God you begin to cling to His ideals and all the tests he presents us with on a daily basis to see if we are acting in a sane and rational manner. You and Karen placed your faith in Our Creator's palm and His very palm is where He holds you near and dear to His heart for eternal safekeeping. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

Nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. Every unpunished murder takes away something from the security of every man's life. Thankfully the young man who your life, Officer Cook, had his taken by Detective Don Blocker who arrived on the scene after you and your comrades except your partner, Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln, were shot. I still read of too many officers being killed in the line of duty and their murderers were either never found or were acquitted by a jury, very sad indeed. I drove by Pepper Park across the street from Mount Sinai Cemetery and Dade North Memorial Park where you and officer Keith DeGenova used to play tennis. I did there as well. If I could have been managing Mt. Sinai Cemetery, which is a Jewish burial ground consecrated in 1941, I would just drive over next door or walk over to visit your grave. Still get emotional and just wished we could have met and our families would have known each other. I'll say a prayer for your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, she would have been my parents, my family's best friend along with your father, Charles, may he too rest in peace, my neighbor, friend and hero. What a great family The Cook's are and to have known them would have meant the world to me. At least I had the pleasure of meeting Justin and Gina and giving the letter to Justin to give to his grandmother. I wished she could have continued living in her home of fifty-six years. My wife and I could have helped take care of her and done whatever needed to be done as you so faithfully did for her during your life. No one can replace you, Officer Cook, no one could have been not only humble but heroic in saving the lives of your friends and those three civilians. You were just a lovable teddy bear.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

Leave this hypocritical prating about the masses. Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands, influence and need not to be flattered but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide and break them up and draw individuals out of them. The worst of charity is that lives you are asked to preserve are not worth preserving. Nothing about being a police officer ever seems routine nowadays, Officer Cook, you respected each person you served and protected and tried to be a calming savior among your colleagues. Your candor was appreciated and your honesty greatly enhanced not only yourself, but your entire department. Today, I stopped by to visit your grave, the two whirlybirds are still spinning in the breeze. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013

But to the great mass of mankind in all places, public questions come in the third or fourth rank among the interests of life and obtain less than a third or a fourth of the leisure available for thinking. It is therefore rather sentiment than thought that the mass can contribute; and the soundness and elevation of their sentiment will have more to do with their taking their stand on the side of justice, honor and peace, than any reasoning they can apply to the sifting of the mutlifarious facts thrown before them and to the drawing of the legitimate inferences therefrom. You ranked right up there, Officer Cook, in your academy class and in your department where you went out to patrol the streets of Dade County looking to keep peace, harmony and unity harnessed properly, by going after the facts not fiction in a just and truthful manner. Fact finding missions are always one of the most valuable tools at an officer's disposal and must be used in an honorable fashion. You were just the very best my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 10, 2013