Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His glory. Here rests your glory, Officer Cook, with distinction and pride for having served Dade County with all your might. The sun was shining brightly the day of your sacrifice and for all our days regardless of meteorologic conditions we'll pause and take a little period of time to think back and realize the man you were to save our day and enable us to have happier times. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 28, 2013
If God is for us, who can be against us? As true as this statement might be, evil and wickedness still pervades our modern society and men and women such as you, Officer Cook, stepped up to the plate big time to endeavor to rein it in. The cost of this is that one may be required to give up their life, but police officers understand this when they take the affirmation to serve and protect. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your passing was not in vain, we'll always remember your richness and intuitive mannerisms.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 28, 2013
Our God is so wonderfully good and lovely and blessed in every way that the mere fact of belonging to Him is enough for an untellable fullness of joy! All the years of your spectacular life, Officer Cook, you were blessed along with Karen. He watched you every step of the way as you were becoming a police officer. Your unwavering attitude and unshakable passion created the makings of one excellent police officer, who sought to bring about harmony to his community. Now you live in harmony, as you my neighbor, friend and hero, rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 28, 2013
Don't be afraid. I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end-because I am God, your personal God, the God of the holy land, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you...! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! Officer Cook, you paid the ultimate price for our freedoms and for this we can never forget you. Our Creator was always with you, Officer Cook, in times of sorrow and joy and even when you were between a rock and hard place. Today, I visited your grave and saw that someone had left flowers and a lovely green St. Patrick's Day design. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We might be a little over our heads but with your spiritual aid we can overcome any challenges that may lie ahead.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 28, 2013
When we love someone, we want to be with them and we view their love for us with great honor even if they are not a person of great status. For this reason-and not because of our great status- God values our love. So much, in fact, that He suffered greatly on our behalf. You afforded all individuals, Officer Cook, regardless of their socioeconomic status with honor and respect due them. You didn't let emotions sway you away from the truth and integrity in which police officers deal with citizens from all walks of life. Today, sadly we have men and women who misuse their badges and need to be taken off the streets, disciplined and even tried, convicted and sentenced to prison. How very sad, but police officers cannot and should not be allowed to be above the law. Someone has to be culpable. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Officers still escape justice due to technicalities within the criminal justice system. This is sad too!
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
Love is extravagant in the price it is willing to pay, the time it is wiling to give, the hardships it is willing to endure and the strength it is willing to spend. Love never thinks in terms of "how little," but always in terms of "how much." Love gives, love knows and love lasts. This is the beauty of God and His ability to be of slow anger and of great compassion to us. You emulated this personification to the maximum, Officer Cook and were able to develop good traits of character in interacting within the community you served. We will be forever grateful and rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
Change your life... Come back to God, your God. And here's why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, this most patient God, extravagant in love. If we only knew what God has to deal with in this planet everyday, Officer Cook, you might not be resting very soundly, God forbid. You are resting in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, for a job well done. I would imagine there were times as a police officer that you inhaled and rolled your eyes in amazement over some of the events that were unfolding where you patrolled. Things can be rather cruel, crude and just plain shocking to the human eyes. Time doesn't always change things, but the people around have to exert the effort to make them occur.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
To love by freely giving is its own reward. To be possessed by love and to in turn give love away is to find the secret of abundant life. If we could find out why you were successful, Officer Cook, maybe we could have saved you that day from terrible harm. You paved our way for only goodness and beauty that should only be with us forever. We wanted the same of you, but God has His plans and needed your servitude to accompany Him to heaven. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The rewards you and your comrades are reaping are more important than all the materialistic possessions one could amass in this lifetime.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
Watch what god does and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how God loved us and continues to do so. His love was not cautious but extravagant. he didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that. Officer Cook, you gave us so much unconditional love and you made certain your loved ones were free of worries. You cared so much of others that you were wiling to risk your being to serve and protect our God-given rights to have freedom. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
All perfect gifts are from above and all our blessings show the amplitude of God's dear love which any heart may know. You bestowed the gift of your wisdom, Officer Cook on all those who loved you so dearly. Your heart functioned well beyond capacity as it did wonderful things for people. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were the perfect gift, Officer Cook for what afflicted the world while you served it. You kept us all marching to the same beat of the drum, which is what you played in high school at Norland High.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
Whom have I in heaven but you? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever... As for me, the nearness of God is my good: I have made the Lord God my refuge. The home you now dwell in forever, Officer Cook is God's holy palace, capable of holding all those comrades of yours who devoutly made the same sacrifice as you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
God is so big He can cover the whole world with His love and so small he can curl up inside your heart. I'm sure your spirit, Officer Cook is curled up inside your family's hearts. Your smiling face is also etched in our beings as we await the time when we can see you again in all of god's divine glory. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
We sometimes fear to bring our troubles to God, because they must seem so small to Him who sits on the circle of the earth. But if they are large enough to worry us and endanger our welfare, they are large enough to touch His heart of love. You were our inspiration, Officer Cook, who by you talents and able -bodied manner were able to protect us from trouble and evil that encircled us. You now encircle us as your loving soul observes and forewarns us if something bad is on the horizon. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Racism, bigotry and prejudice were elements of society that you looked to stamp out.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
In comparison with this world, the human heart is only a small thing. Though the world is so large, it is utterly unable to satisfy this tiny heart. our ever-growing soul and its capacities can be satisfied only in the infinite God. As water is restless until it reaches its level, so the soul has no peace until it rests with God. Now your divine soul, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero, rests in peace with God looking out after you and your comrades, two more in Santa Cruz, California who have joined you to give added protection to the men and women who served on this earth.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 27, 2013
Officer William C. Cook: November 30, 1953-May 16, 1979 These things will always be remembered: Your strength of character and integrity, Your unconditional love and enduring guidance. Your compassion for all people. Your respect for nature and the great outdoors, Your patriotic spirit and Your selfless generosity and devotion to family. The life of a brave and reverent man, who channeled his brilliance into something pretty marvelous. An unassuming man who just wanted to serve and assist his fellow comrades in their daily pursuits of peace and justice served with a slice of honesty and dignity on top. The All-American hero who took the gifts that he was given by God and made the proper and wise use of them. He instilled fearless confidence in those who wanted to advance and achieve their dreams and goals. He was the "Rock of Gibralter." Steady and yet unbending. Unwavering in his beliefs and yet steered his family and friends in the right direction. Motivated, Disciplined, Polite and Dearly loved in a most fitting manner. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your saintly ways will never leave us and are forever the blueprint for us to march on with our lives as we struggle to achieve success that you captured with your inner physical and mental being.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
I meant to say in one reflection you can't be brought back to us physically, but spiritually you'll always be with us. Rest in peace Officer Cook.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
The joyful birds prolong the strain, their song with every spring renewed; the air we breathe and falling rain, each softly whispers: God is good. He sure is Officer Cook! He was and has been to your loving family all these years, blessing your beloved mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, with good health and much spiritual prosperity. She will always be on my mind and in my thoughts and prayers, as will your wife, Karen who went through so much after your passing and your beloved sister, Nancy, who misses you and beloved father, Charles. may you both rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. We sing praises to your very name, Officer cook, the deeds you performed were a true blessing indeed. Your memory will never fade from us and we should try not to stray, but stay on a proper course as you so exemplified. God's heavens were awaiting your soul to guard it forever in His holy palace. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Everyone created has two inclinations, for good and for bad. We should emulate only what you pursued, the good and righteous ways of Our Creator.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. We should be happy and glad that you came along, Officer Cook, when you did. You saved that day, even at the cost of sacrificing your very soul for our safety and that of those two civilians and your fellow officers. They are miss you and revere you for what you did. Though you can be brought back to us physically, spiritually you'll always be there. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
I would be always in the thick of life, threading its mazes, sharing its strife, Yet-somehow singing! Someway, somehow despite the tragedy of losing you, Officer Cook, if we can smile a bit at day's end, laugh a little as you did and just try to be happy and do our tasks with humility and integrity as you so faithfully did, we will be all right. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, our burdens were a bit lessened because of your heavenly assistance.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. You rejoiced Officer Cook with your family the day you married Karen. She was from the same down to earth and upstanding family you were from. You made each other feel gifted, unique and special. You were both passionate in that you helped people make better choices with their lives and helped in serving them. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Together we can make a difference!
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. Officer Cook, we experience life as you experienced life. We go through the challenges each day that God places in our way, testing us to see if we can at least try to meet His expectations. You met these challenges and so much more and we really wanted for you to still be here with us, because you still had a lot to accomplish and to give back to your community even in retirement. I'm not sure you would have just stayed home and not did anything. That was not your motto. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
God has put into each of our lives a void that cannot be filled by the world. We may leave God or put Him on hold, But He is always there, patiently waiting for us...to turn back to him. There will always be that void in your family over your loss, Officer Cook and that of your beloved father, Charles, may you my neighbor, friend and hero rest in peace along with your dad. Patience is a virtue and one day we will see you again.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
He has remembered His love and His faithfulness....all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. You've seen God's salvation, Officer Cook, always while on duty guarding our best interests. Now your beautiful soul sees and feels God's salvation reverberating around it. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your love will always remain ingrained in your loving family.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
Through you have not seen Him, you love Him....and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. You always brought joy in good taste and honor to your family, Officer Cook. Your sense of humor helped lower the anxiety at times and was most welcomed. That is missed by them today and everyday, but they count their blessings, for your cherished twenty-five years on God's green soil. The wonderful memories that always will stay with them and so many others to inspire them to seek happy thoughts and to pursue their dreams and aspirations in freedom, that you achieved by protecting, serving and defending our rights right up to your last breath that you drew, so help me God. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
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