Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

No Caesar he whom we lament, a man without a precedent, sent, it would seem, to do his work and perish, too. One of the people! Born to be their curious epitome; to share, yet rise above their shifting hate and love. There was no dislike in your being, Officer Cook, only pleasantries to last a lifetime. We do lament your passing and certainly take pride in the memory of your life so well lived and fortified by your interest in serving and policing the citizens of Dade County and their interests. Our freedoms are able to carry on because of your aspirations and dreams to make safety your number one priority. And your self-expression, Officer Cook, passed into communication between all parties and thus your career was fulfilled and your life and all the good memories of a wonderful human being can now and forever be revealed to all who want to look back on your stellar achievements. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 27, 2013

Oh, slow to smite and swift to spare, gentle, merciful and just! who, in the fear of God, did hear, the sword of power, a nation's trust! You had the county's trust for six years of accomplishment, Officer Cook and the power that is given to all police officers must at all times be used cautiously. You were raised well and taught very well in the academy. Some officers have a misconception that a uniform, a badge and a weapon are a license to do whatever and this is where the mistake lies. You were the kind of special officer that comes around once in a while, probably some others, but your unique style made the citizens you served feel protected. You made people feel good about themselves, my neighbor, friend and hero. You were a man to hold against the world and a man to match the mountains and the sea. So as you rest in peace my the light of your very cherished soul illuminate of all the mountains and all the seas, from sea to shining sea. Your boldness and certainly caused no rancor ever.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 27, 2013

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things. You did your job, Officer Cook, under stress and yet all officers have to keep a composure about them if they are going to succeed. We cannot despair and give up hope and faith that everything you represented will go unnoticed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and keep assisting God and your comrades who sacrificed their very souls so we can aspire, inspire and continue to perspire from our toil and effort.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 26, 2013

For gentleness, love and trust, prevail over an angry wave and gust; and in the wreck of noble lives, something immortal still survives. What does survive is the love and respect, Officer Cook, you had for your family, friends and fellow comrades. Only we still wish you were here today celebrating your family's milestone events. You'll always be in their hearts and you know when they occur. A person's soul always knows the comings and goings and it will forever light up the darkness that seems to confront our society. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 26, 2013

Take them, O great eternity! Our little life is but a gust that bends the branches of thy tree and trails its blossoms in the dust! The seasons change and time moves on, but you, Officer Cook, will only revolve around us forever. Your stellar life and career will forever change the way police operate in Dade County. Because of your sacrifice, officers now have been fitted with sidepanels, offering them greater protection. Seems small, not so, your giving of yourself to be the loyal and trusted officer we came to know and love is what makes your sacrifice all the more special. The quality individual you were to your department for six solid years of courage and commitment is only the tip of the iceberg. Your loving family will always have the memories of you to share as your legacy and a legacy Dade County citizens can always be thankful and grateful for. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 26, 2013

Art is long and time is fleeting and our hearts, though stout and brave, still, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave. We all can still hear the muffled sounds of those bagpipes playing Amazing Grace as you were being borne up the steps to St. Mary's Cathedral. The very noises from the helicopters flying above, the sound of taps at your Inspector's Funeral which I know was attended by thousands of police officers from Canada and all across the nation. The civilians who came too, paying proper honor, respect and reverence to you, Officer Cook, for what you stood for in Dade County Law enforcement. Time marches on and we will always remember the special goodness that governed your life and one quite well lived for twenty-five grand and glorious years.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 26, 2013

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, life is but an empty dream!- For the soul is dead that slumbers and things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; dust thou art, to dust returns, was not spoken of the soul. Officer Cook, you lived your life by principles and your life was celebrated by your many achievements. Never a bad thing could ever be uttered anyone about you because of what you meant to all and the community you served and loved so dearly. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and as you served job profession so faithfully, you can always enjoy the rewards of the next world for being so heroic in saving seven lives in one day.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 26, 2013

Every life is its own excuse for being and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon the doer and the man who makes wrong statements about others is himself to be pitied, not the man he vilifies. It is better to be lied about than to lie. At last no one can harm us but ourselves. I misstated a fact regarding your father, Charles, may he too rest in peace . I said he is probably telling stories of his Navy days. From the article about yourself, Officer Cook your dad proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard, fought in World War II and the Korean War. So there have to be many pleasant stories to recount with him. You were brought up along with Nancy, your loving sister with values and honesty and integrity, two traits which are needed in a person's life to be successful. You and your father fought battles for our freedoms and you will not be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

I took one draught of life, I'll tell you what I paid, precisely an existence-the market price, they said. So say all of us. You paid a dear price, the ultimate, Officer Cook, so we could bear witness to your extraordinary feats of courage and valor. You lived for your family, for Karen, and your colleagues who watched you gave your life on that awful day of May 16, 1979. We never know who is vulnerable, because we knew from the start of your character and true spirit in policing Dade County streets. When it rains, it's you, Officer Cook, making sure the grass grows greener and then you warm us all with the bright rays of the sun as it glows larger and larger upon us. Dade citizens knew you and appreciated your true kindness and exemplary manner in which you took to overseeing truth and justice done fittingly the first time out. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Our days begin with trouble here, our life is but a span and cruel death is always near, so frail a thing is man. You were not frail, Officer Cook and yes sometimes in your profession an officer can encounter trouble right after roll call. It has happened on occasion. Either an officer gave their life by gunfire or being struck by a train one hour after graduating from the police academy. Whatever the role, you were always there, Officer Cook, to back us up and now as your back up, let us consider how our very actions will reflect on our lives and hopefully in a positive manner. You would be proud of your relatives and their accomplishments, they of course would love for you to be with them, but you are with them and the entire community you so dearly cherished in spirit. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

I meant to say, Officer Cook, your crowning achievements were conceived in humbleness and dignity that will never fade away. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few. The manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten. The living sap of today outgrows the dead rind of yesterday. The hand entrusted with power becomes, either from human depravity or esprit de corps, the necessary enemy of the people. Only by continued oversight can the democrat in office be prevented from hardening into a despot; only by unintermitted agitation can a people be sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. The prosperity you enjoyed, Officer Cook, was given to you by God for loyally protecting his flock and since you were one of His loyal servants, he saw to it that you would be remembered by all who witnessed you heroic acts of bravery and courage in making us feel secure. And you will never be out of our sight or minds. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night; but, oh, my foes and oh, my friends- it gives a lovely light. Your light, Officer Cook, your life, your soul still to this day does shine very brightly and your crowning achieved conceived in humbleness and dignity will never fade away. The past belongs to God: the present only is ours. And short as it is, there is more to it and of it, than we can well manage. My neighbor, friend and hero, there indeed was so much more to grasp. God was there on May 16, 1979, to grasp hold of you one last time and take you on an eternal journey of a lifetime. This one required no ticket, or admitance fee, only the two of you together as partners, now patrolling side by side. Rest in peace. Of course I cried too today when it I visited your grave and I'll always try to be there for your loving family and I'll keep your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook in my thoughts and prayers as I wrote to her.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Life has its heroes and you were among the many, Officer Cook. Tell me not, in mournful numbers, life is but an empty dream!-For the soul is dead that slumbers and things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. Your life, Officer Cook, was filled with many exciteful moments. Graduating from the police academy and having your badge pinned on your chest. True and true it was not a goal for you to be slumbering now, your soul travels all around as your being rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero in the lush green ground where God was waiting to rejoin you and your father, Charles, together again until your loving family reunites with both of you.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

A noble life, crowned with heroic death, rises above and outlives the pride, pomp and glory of the mightiest empire of the earth. Officer Cook, your career and life accomplishments were marked by Auxilliary Bishop John Nevins in his eulogy of you. The gathering that day of May 19, 1979, a rather hot day in Miami was when all your family, colleagues and friends came together one last time to pay their respects and honor to you for the privilege of having served with them. The discipline that you needed when policing was always evident and those salutes to you meant so very much to your loving family who relished having you in their midst as their hero. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

You were at your happiest, Officer Cook, when you were out in the streets of Dade County motivating and cultivating relationships within the community you so dearly were fond of. Truly remarkable. You did live greatly and your police record would bear the full light of day from its beginning until your final watch. That is why officers sholuld make each of their watches special and take extra care in minding the streets. You lived for others and this is why your life was worthwhile. You gave back to society and it is our onus to gave back the same. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. As a police officer, Officer Cook, you placed your trust and hope that all the training you received would translate into granting us the democracy and freedoms that we so desire. God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it. Unless you are willing to tranfer it to others, you cannot have true liberty. Officers are at liberty to act at times in unusual circumstances so long as they act within the framework of the law they are sworn to uphold. You gave Officer Cook, so we can receive something very special on the other end. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain. Your pursuits, Officer Cook, were always for the good of the community and we would not be in this shape if not for heroes and heroines like you who boldly faced evil and gave it their all. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

The law must be stable, but it must not stand still. You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free. This is the job of all police officers, to make sure that stability exists within the ranks. One bad apple, a police officer can undermine an entire department making it harder for all officers to function properly. Officer Cook, you were properly prepared for your role to go out into the community and offer them your finest efforts. They deserve nothing less and the officer who was wearing Badge#1664: Officer William C. Cook, always gave total concentration to the matters at hand. Liberty trains for liberty. Responsibility is the first step in responsibility. You are to be commended for your first class dedication, concern and patience in carrying out your duties, my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace. If there is any officer today in Dade County or other departments who proudly wear Badge#1664, may be they have been told who carried this badge of honor and dignity close to their heart. You were the officer who always prepared for any action that may have come your way.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good and I died in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my Creator. You gave your life, Officer Cook, so that all other citizens can lead their lives by God's loving will. You allowed God to direct both your pathway in life and that of Karen's, too. We could not be prouder of both how you lived your life and how you sacrificed for our safety and freedoms. We don't get to choose how long we are here, but we know you certainly had more years, many more in serving Our Creator. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Today, I visited your grave, Officer Cook and someone placed lovely red, white and blue flowers in honor of the upcoming July fourth holiday, as well as two whirlybirds spinning in the wind. Perhaps, Gina, you and Trevor,along with your children visited their great-uncle's grave along with your mother, Nancy. He was a great man, a true hero and visionary. Today, before I visited his grave I was driving by NW 17th Avenue and NW 75th Street and the sign that bears his name. He would indeed be pleased of all the new buildings and houses being built in the area he policed and so loved. God fills the gaps of human need, each crisis brings its word and deed. Officer Cook, you were a man of your word and put into synchronization all of your loving deeds and kindnesses for us to witness. I stopped off at a local business after dropping my son, Joshua off at his summer job as a volunteer at The Miami Jewish Health Systems at Douglas Gardens. Hope your family, Gina has an enjoyable summer and hope to see your soon. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

The search is for the just word, the happy phrase, that will give expression to the thought, but somehow the thought itself is transfigured by the phrase when found. Fortunately, you always thought before speaking, Officer Cook and this was the main reason you were an excellent communicator. You placed your passion in the language you spoke and people were able to understand the messages you were conveying to them. Every language is a temple, in which the soul of those who speak it is enshrined. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and allow your loving and giving soul to speak to us as well as to others with the compassion and grace that dignified your being and helped to accentuate your honorable career. Folks like you, Officer Cook are surely better than angels. We get a chance each day to start anew and to climb as high as we can. To be able to embrace you once again is our goal and with every endeavor that chance increases mightily.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

If we could first know where we are and whether we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it. Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to re-establish it. It is not originally a thing of itself, but is only the absence of knowledge; and though man may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant. Ignorance is no excuse for committing crime and lack of knowledge when there is information out and around is too no reason to act the way certain people act. This is why we have devoted men and women like you, Officer Cook, out in the community policing and sharing information regarding our welfare. Offering assistance to those in need. Some officers themselves have tragically gotten involved in the wrong dilemmas and can't escape its clutches. It traps them like a mouse chasing cheese and for them, it's the end of a possibly distinguished career. Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately you occasionally find men and women for that part disgracing labor, meaning tarnishing their badges and departments in which they serve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

To be proud of knowledge is to be blind with light. To know is not less than to feel. It is better to ask some questions than to know all the answers. Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams. The sunlight we now feel and see is your soul, Officer Cook, making each of our days seem a little brighter. Cheering us up from all the darkness, doom and despair. Now let us hope as the sun shines, that justice is not blind and all the wonderful work you performed on our behalf, Officer Cook can be vigorously carried on. This is your living legacy that you left for us to complete. This was your goal, your mission and we cannot leave it simply undone. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

Knowledge is the knowing that we cannot know. Our knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of innumerable minds: our language, our religion, our opinions, our fancies we inherited. Well you certainly inherited plenty of good genes from your wonderful family, Officer Cook. The DNA certainly did not fall far from the tree. You were as honorable a gentleman as your loving father, Charles, may he rest in peace and that is why you too succeeded mightily in all your endeavors. You made everyone proud to know and love you. I admire you even though we never had a chance to meet one another or our families. I'll continue to honor your blessed memory by trying to assist others as you so faithfully did. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

The hope of all who suffer, the dread of all who wrong. Justice has nothing to do with expediency. Justice has nothing to do with any temporary standard whatever. It is rooted and grounded in the fundamental instincts of humanity. Those of us who suffer because of your tragic loss, Officer Cook are the ones who were very blessed indeed to have known you and the type of human being and police officer that you were. You were a very accountable officer who stood your ground to solidify the foundations of truth and justice. Those foundations are cemented forever. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. all officers are expected to always act in a civil and humane manner, there are no exceptions to this common sense rule.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013