Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
We are of such value to God that He came to live among us...and to guide us home. he will go to any length to seek us, even to being lifted high upon the sign to draw us back to Himself. we can only respond by loving God for His love. Everyone has their own spiritual value, you, Officer Cook, served in your church and you and Karen were their for your fellow members and were the first to give back. People like yourself, don't just pop into someone's lives daily, they are a Godsend, sent to us to deliver on the affirmations they make to participate in helping God make this a better place to live and sustain through their honest efforts. In certain ways, sacrifices are a part of life, the law profession knows this and the brave men and women who make these sacrifices should always be mentioned for a blessing and they are. Their work lays the groundwork for future officers to carry on in their paths that they emblazoned. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, were every walk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole through stretched from sky to sky. The tears people shed for you, Officer Cook, could have filled many bodies of water. If we can have you back, we would love to see your smiling face and give you a long sought after embrace. You were a mensch that means in Jewish a person, who exemplified true morals and ideals. Your character was above and beyond reproach and you'll always be in spirit our guiding light, whose shining armor will always glisten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
The God of the universe-the One who created everything and holds it all in His hand-created each of us in His image, to bear His likeness, His imprint. It is only when He dwells within our hearts, radiating the pure light of His love through our humanity, that we discover who we are and what we were intended to be. God intended for us to try as hard as we can to be honest and good people. When we can accomplish this role, then as you personified, Officer Cook, you took your dreams and aspirations to a higher level and were a success in your endeavors. You were a big help to your community and they will never forget your bravery and courage. You'll always be on our minds and in our sacred thoughts. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, He died for us. You gave your life, Officer Cook for us and so did your colleagues who answered the call before you. Now God has assembled a police fraternity of His own. "The Thin Blue Line." All those officers who ascend to heaven stop and greet you and your fallen comrades as you await your next heavenly assignment. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
Real love is always a gift from god: a gift of Himself. You were a gift from God, Officer Cook, always there, always caring, wondering if you could assist us more. Your entire life was solely devoted to helping others and now we pause and reflect on how we can honor your memory. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
This is what real love is. It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us. He sent His representative to die in our place to take away our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us and His love is made perfect in us. We know that we live in god and he lives in us, because He gave us His spirit....And so we know the love that God has for us and we trust that love. god is love. Those who live in God and God lives in them....Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear....We love God because God first loved us. God loved you very dearly, Officer Cook and we still and will for ever wonder why He decided to call you home. Your father, Charles, may he rest in peace was calling for his beloved son. Your spirits will always reside within your families, friends and colleagues to cherish all the goodness you brought to this world. Your courage will remain etched in our minds forever. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your parents and your sister, Nancy, knew you were a real true blue hero and you deserve all the accolades that come your way.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 26, 2013
There is nothing we can do that will make God love us less and there's nothing we can do that will make Him love us more. He will always and forever love us unconditionally. What He wants from us is that we love Him back with all our heart. Nothing about your amazing journeys through life, Officer Cook, that was conditional. Unconditionally, you loved your family, peers, members of your church, Karen and they gave back to you want you gave to them. We just wish you were here now and so do I. I miss you very much and hope to greet your family members down the road of happiness again. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. You can surely now rest in peace, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero. You devoted all your passions to your position with the class it surely demands. No vacancies when it came to love and compassion to everyone you came across and to your family.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Prayer is...an ever available door by which to come into God's presence. Your comrades were at the door of North Shore Hospital praying for your welfare and that of your colleagues, Officers DiGenova and officer Edgerton. The doctors worked as hard as they could to save your young life, God needed you more to help Him with His heavenly task of watching over His streets, the ones you so fiercely protected. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
God is the sunshine that warms us, the rain that melts the frost and waters the young plants. The presence of God is a climate of strong and bracing love, always there. Your harmonious presence Officer Cook, would brighten a sad day and illuminate a dark room. Your embrace would calm a hysterical person down and your vitality was essential to the rank and file and morale of your department. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Always be in a state of expectancy and see that you leave room for God to come in as he likes. We expected to see you come home from your shift everyday and for the most past you did, Officer Cook. Your courage was outstanding in the face of violence and you'll always be remembered. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
God is always present in the temple of your heart. His home. And when you come in to meet Him there, you find that it is the one place of deep satisfaction where every longing is met. For all your achievements, Officer Cook, I don't believe we have to look far to find your soul. The day of your tragic passing it went straight up to heaven, awaiting God's heavenly embrace for a job well done. Now you can help Me with a very demanding task, and that is to keep watch over those who faithfully toil in this world trying to combat negativity that still pervades our society. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
We need never shout across spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts. I think you raised your voice, Officer Cook, when you had to garner another officer's attention. Your soothing and pleasant disposition made it a joy to team up with you. Probably every officer wished they could have worked with you. Always there to share and care and inquire if they were fine. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. All your efforts, dreams and aspirations Officer Cook, were always performed for the sake of heaven. This is what determines a person's spiritual worth when they pass from this world and their soul travels upward to God's glorious palace. This is where your soul rests in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in Me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. All police officers should be practicing what their preaching and you my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, were no different. It's how you could utilize every opportunity in a positive channel that could make your job a bit easier or safer. You practiced everything to the letter right down to your last breath you drew. What a tragedy! But, we'll never forget your cunning and bravery. You demonstrated the proper techniques on how to maintain and survive the roughness of the areas you served and defended. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're truly living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what He said, doing what pleases Him. Again, this is God's command; to believe in His personality. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep His commands, we live deeply and surely in Him and He lives in us. And this is how we experience His deep and abiding presence in us; by the Spirit He gave. He gave you life Officer Cook. You were able to juggle a number of different assignments because you had the will that assisted you in gaining the skill. You overcame difficulties and were able to maximize your potential. This is a key to the success of today's officers. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. People loved you, Officer Cook and they gravitated over to you to gain insights they would not normally have the chance to do.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
We must drink deeply from the very Source the deep calm and peace interior quietude and refreshment of God, allowing the pure water of divine grace to flow plentifully and unceasingly from the source itself. All those men and women who worked with you, Officer Cook, knew where to go when they had an issue or problem with something that might have caused them trouble on the streets. They went to Officer William C. Cook. Your fresh insights and versatility were like a breath of fresh air to them. You had to be one of Metro-Dade Police Department's most trusted officers in your time. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Every time we drink, we should think of you, Officer Cook and your thirst for knowledge.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. We are all exalted by having known you, Officer Cook and your outstanding community service and easy going passion that allowed you to work at a high skill level. Personally, I still wished I had know you, I'm sure your sense of humor would have made me crack up in laughter. We are allowed some light moments, but when the going gets tough the tough get going. You were stern when the situation dictated, calm when necessary and most of all compassionate beyond the letter. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life. You were Officer Cook, a wellspring of knowledge, an encyclopedia of history about your department that now can be shared for years to come. Your bright smile and gregariousness is cherished by your loved ones and friends to pick them up if they are downtrodden. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
So wait before the Lord. Wait in the stillness. And in the stillness, assurance will come to you. You will know that you are heard; you will know that your Lord ponders the voice of your humble desires; you will hear quiet words spoken to you yourself, perhaps to your grateful surprise and refreshment. Your resting in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, in the serenity befitting heroes such as yourself who answered calls over and beyond the calls of duty. Your humbleness is certainly absent from officers who could use a lesson or two into what it takes to make a valuable and a most resourceful officer. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
Solitude liberates us from entanglements by carving out a space from which we can see ourselves and our situation before the Audience of One. Solitude provides the private place where we can take our bearings and so make God our North Star. You are now among the firmaments in the sky, Officer Cook. Your soul has blazed a path for all future officers to pursue the proper and just things you so faithfully attained. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 25, 2013
God did not tell us to follow Him because he needed our help, but because he knew that loving Him would make us whole. You are whole once again, Officer Cook. Your soul traveled to heaven as a whole component of your being. Your physical abilities were far superior than other officers and your wisdom more mature than others. I'm sure your maturity is sorely missed among the ranks of your peers and they regret not having your keen intellect guiding them each day. They do have memories, officers who worked with you and knew the type of officer you turned out to become. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your capabilities are needed more than we think and God has the best of officers in His eternal stable to watch and witness good police work at its finest.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 24, 2013
You'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. At your Inspector's Funeral, Officer Cook, you were being showered with accolades for a job well done. Now your in heaven singing with glee as you so faithfully watch God's flock of officers here on this earth. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 24, 2013
And now...one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, pure, lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Your mind, Officer Cook, was only focused on the now and how do I serve my community and offer them more than I already do? You sought to constantly improve upon the qualities which made you who you were. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 24, 2013
There are two days in the week about which I never worry. Two carefree days, kept sacredly from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday-and the other is tomorrow. You lived your life for the moment, Officer Cook. Nothing as we know is to be taken for granted. We understand this and certainly men and women as brave as you were understood this when they decided to become police officers. You looked forward to having your first weekend off to spend time with Karen, It's sad, but we can always remember the good times you spent with her and your family and friends. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 24, 2013
Want even more control of your Reflection? Create a free ODMP account now for these benefits:
- Quick access to your heroes
- Reflections published quicker
- Save a Reflection signature
- View, edit or delete any Reflection you've left in the past