Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Police Officer William Coleman Cook

Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida

End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979

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Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever i can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. Your did that Officer Cook. The flame within your pure soul will always shine bright and can never be extinguished. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You'll always be in the hearts of Dade County and its citizens forever, Officer Cook.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. How very true Officer Cook. Your twenty-five years were all filled with this basic instinct and it never lead you down the wrong path. You performed every act of your life as if it were your last. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Our True Blue Hero and the very best of God's solemn angels.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Agape is understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill toward all men. Agape is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. Theologians would say that it is the love of God operating in the human heart. When you rise to love on this level, you love all men not because you like them, not because their ways appeal to you, but you love them because God loves them. And this was instilled in both you and Karen and your sister, Nancy, growing up, Officer Cook. It made you wiser and more informed than the average person. It redefined you as an officer who worked humbly with others to get the job done right and with meaning. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

The quality of mercy is not strained; it drops as the gentle rain from heaven; upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed; it blesses He that gives and He that takes. When the rain falls we can look to the heavens above and know that Officer Cook and his fellow blue angelic comrades are at work providing much needed assistance to their fellow officers here. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Fear grows out of things we think; it lives in our minds. Compassion grows out of things we are and lives in our hearts. It's only natural to have a certain amount of apprehension. This is logical even for a highly skilled police officer the caliber of yourself, Officer Cook. Judging by your smile as I look at your picture on The Officer Down Memorial page, I can tell you were not a pessimist, but rather someone who relished tackling problems head on. For your efforts, we will remember your shining legacy as something we can look at in the mirror daily to energize our motivations, if our inspirations start to wane a bit. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Every creature seeks its perfection in another. We are attempt to replicate what you so faithfully accomplished, Officer Cook. But how can we sustain this by doing so in honesty and in truth while maintaining dignity? The answer is to begin in trusting in God to guide your every direction. You can be sure He has your back. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. the Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made....You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Officer Cook, you and Karen experienced all the happiness that one could have in a beautiful marriage and it is a shame you can't still be with us today. You loved every living being with respect and honor, so it is fitting that we honor your contribution to Dade County, its citizens and to modern day society. You'll be loved and adored by your loved ones forever and treasured by your law enforcement peers as your legacy grows. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced or cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody but unbowed. beyond this place of wrath an tears, looms but the horror of the shade and yet the menace of the years finds and shall find, me unafraid. it matters now how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. Officer Cook, I still wonder in amazement how you brave men and women can function and give the effort, the total package needed to preserve law and order when you sometimes are barraged with different dilemmas with which you have to deal with in a timely manner? Honesty, integrity, durability and clarity become crystal clear when confounded with a task to carry out. You did your assignments well my neighbor, friend and hero and now you can rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Take this kiss upon the brow! And in parting from you now, this much let me avow, You are not wrong, who deem, that My days have been a dream, yet if hope has flown away in a night or in a day, in a vision, or in none, all that that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream. Officer Cook, you dared to dream as we all do and you realized what hard work, sweat and toil would do for you. It made you a man among men and wiser than most beyond their years. Now we can only stop and ponder what would be if you were here with us today. So much promise, so much love, so much humility to light up an entire banquet hall. But, you know what? You'll never be out of our sight or minds because of your fearless pursuit of justice and equality. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything. You are in for trouble if you sin, but you will be rewarded if you live right. As you grew up Officer Cook, God rewarded you and Karen by giving you new opportunities and open doors. He helped you both attain: self-confidence, overcoming fear, gaining skills, gaining wisdom and knowledge, practicing persistence and perseverance, changing attitudes about failure, getting rid of bitterness, stopping blame, giving up victim thinking, growing in your ability to confront issues in a positive manner, overcoming control issues, controlling anger. You excelled in being calm, cool, collected and most reasonable when dealing with domestic issues, gaining the ability to say no, growing in relationship skills, resolving old hurts and trauma, overcoming depression, I don't think you were ever in this condition, overcoming addictions and compulsive behaviors, overcoming impulsiveness, and giving up wistful thinking. To become the excellent police officer that you were, Officer Cook, your career was propelled by a mix of relentness determination, pragmatism, patience, risk and energy to carry you through your shift. In God's grace He had given both you and Karen the intelligence necessary to make wise life-decisions that would take you up the ladder of success. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Some of those traits listed were things that were both instilled and taught to you and Nancy, that you needed to avoid.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Anger can be so destructive and yet it can preserve good things. We're angry because of losing you in a tragic and untimely fashion and yet we know that God is compassionate and full of kindness a she is slow to anger. He forgives us quicker than the blink of an eye. Officer Cook, your characteristics so closely emulated Our Creator and that was the reason you were able to achieve as much as you did in your years on the force. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

All of us want to feel like we are accomplishing things that matter and to be successful in what we do. But many times we either don't know what we should be doing, how to do it, or how to make it work. The good news is that God has created you for a specific purpose and has revealed the secrets that will help you find that purpose and make it succeed. It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. if you will it to happen it will usually happen. It sure did happen for both you and Karen, Officer Cook. Both of you became accomplished in your professions because of hard work and the perseverance to achieve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. be careful who you trust with your heart, your dreams and your very soul. You placed your trust firmly in God's hands, Officer Cook. maybe we could have done something for you so you might still be with us. But the paramedics and doctors did all they could to save you. They worked their utmost. God had plans for you to join Him as another of His True Blue Angels supporting your comrades in this world as you faithful watch along with Our Creator over them. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

This is God's message: Attend to matters of justice. See things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don't take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering! You championed all these causes, Officer Cook. Your resolve as a police officer was to do as much to make certain they were safe and secure. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. if you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get His help and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Life has its twists and turns and can be downright unfair and cruel at times. but we are supposed to trust in Our maker. You did Officer Cook. We still mourn your loss and know you are in a better place in heaven next to your beloved father, Charles. May you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We must always be careful as trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 17, 2013

Give yourself to life-enhancing things. As you choose love, health and life, you will not need whatever it was that you were addicted to. Find good community and good support. Find your talents and put them to use. Give yourself to serving God and others. As you get into the good stuff, which is not addicting but fulfilling, you will rediscover your freedom from the things that enslaved you. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. We can say with most clarity that you accomplished things in your life, Officer Cook, that only made our lives more worthwhile. We are saddened by your tragic loss, but know when the day comes to greet you in heaven again, we will be most happy. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You had hobbies that could be construed as addicting, but to you they were most fulfilling.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 16, 2013

God created us with the capacity and the desire to feel happy. We all want that sometimes elusive sense of well-being that makes us feel that all is right in our world. And while being happy is not God's only or even highest priority for us, he very much wants us to have a sense of well-being-He wants us to be filled with joy, peace and hope. Like so much else in this world, there are laws and principles that govern our happiness. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Your brilliance, Officer Cook, helped us stay happy and healthy. You had officers who assisted you that day and helped the paramedics in trying to save you. You always uplifted the spirits of your friends and neighbors with your infectious sense of humor. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your inspiration remains our motivation and our motivations shall serve as the motivation of us remembering your fine and shining legacy.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 16, 2013

Opening yourself up to the gifts of God means trusting that he loves you and will provide for you. it means daring to be vulnerable with both God and the right people. It often means trusting beyond what you can see. It means believing in the character of God even more than you believe in your desired outcome. God blessings await you. You hold the key that unlocks them: trust. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. seek His will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. Officer Cook, you believed in everything that God had laid out for you during your life. He is the quintessential Creator in all of His plans for us. For the outstanding service you provided Dade County and its citizens and for making the ultimate sacrifice for all, God now holds your very soul under his eternal lock and key. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 16, 2013

Hurry with Your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore Me! That would be certain death. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek Him. You and Karen sought God at all times to help lead you to positive results. The result of your sacrifice is that your beloved soul can rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero with all your other comrades who stood and faced evil face to face.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 15, 2013

No matter where you are in your faith journey-whether you are just testing the waters to see if there is anything out there worth believing in or you are a longtime believer desiring a richer, more fulfilling relationship with the Creator of the universe- the starting point is always the same. seek. This is where it all begins. Seek and you will find. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. You sought only to be the the very you could be at whatever profession you chose, Officer Cook. Police work is not for any average person and you made a calculated maneuver to make the world a better place and succeeded mightily Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 15, 2013

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. each day has enough trouble of its own. You handled each day of your brilliant career, Officer Cook, with professionalism, and grace personified. Your sacrifice will always remain in the hearts of your colleagues years from now to share with others. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 15, 2013

The Master said, "What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the mean man seeks in in others." You sought peac eand unity among others, Officer Cook. This is the only realistic way for an officer to function in today's society. You can never go wrong with this approach. For six years this way endeared you to Dade County citizens. Rest in peac emy neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 14, 2013

Human responsibilty is the absolute llaw of God and unless you fulfill it you have no way to get into heaven. As a duty sworn officer, Officer Cook, you took full responsibilities for all your actions. They were the proper and most dignified of them all. You took charge that fateful day of a situation, a disturbance that got out of hand and until your last breath endeavored to pacify an already upset young man bent on violence. Your beloved soul had a role to partake in whatever means you deemed possible to end this incident in a peaceful manner. We as citizens of Dade County could not thank you enough for your consideration and courage to deal with these events on a daily basis. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 14, 2013

Everything is in the hand of heaven except the fear of heaven. Everyone displays apprehension, the one who is able to conquer their fears is indeed a blessed person. Officer Cook, you were this astute officer who uyilized all that God instilled in you to help fight crime and who used your voice to caln a person down. Never to be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 14, 2013

Today in the Vatican City, Officer Cook, the College of Cardinals elected a new Pope. His name is Pope Francis I and he is the first pope of modern times too come from Buenos Aires, Argentina. His name means, poverty, humility and simplicity. You and your beloved wife, Karen championed the less fortunate. You both lived in a humble home and enjoyed the simpler things in life. Let us hope and pray that one day evil can be wiped out, poverty can be eradicated and simplicity can lead us to realize the freedoms we have both physically and spiritually. Your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, God bless her would be very proud of not only what transpired in Rome, but of you, her beloved darling son who fought until the end to wipe out evil and bravely faced this enemy head on. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 13, 2013

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