Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
We have a Father in heaven who is Almighty, who loves His children and whose very joy and delight it is to...help them at all times and under all circumstances. In all you situations, Officer Cook, you were help by the Almighty. If times could change or any thing could be done differently they would have. As you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, I will always look back on your life and its achievements that call for reflection and the honor you so richly deserve.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in His Name. Your reverence, Officer Cook, allowed you and Karen to always keep this in mind. It allowed you to have many happy days together and wish you both could still be together. You were two of the sweetest people I'd never met. You complemented one another so well. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
The "air" which our souls need also envelope all of us at all times and on all sides. God is round about us...with many sided and all sufficient grace. All we need to do is open our hearts. You poured your heart out to the citizens of Dade County and were ever so loyal and true to them for six years. You placed every ounce of your strength, vim, vigor and vitality on the line to enhance their very lives. Nothing can change what happened to you unfortunately, I wish we could reverse that day, but sooner or later we will see you again, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps. He who guards His domains, never rests or sleeps. The Lord guards you. The Lord is your shade that protects you from the sun. The sun cannot hurt you during the day and the moon cannot hurt you at night. The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life. The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever. For twenty-five treasured years, God saw fit to keep watch over you, Officer Cook, moving you in every direction for only the good. He needed you up in heaven for whatever reason we don't know to assist other officers who like you sacrificed their lives and are now patrolling His streets above making sure those who police are safe from harm. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
All the world is an utterance of the Almighty. Its countless beauties, its exquisite adaptations, all speak to you of Him. All your works Officer Cook, speak volumes of God's loving and precious ways. You did what had to be done and for this we'll never forget you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
He made you so you could share in His creation, could love and laugh and know Him. To know one is to love them and Officer Cook, you hearty laughter and sense of humor is surely missed by everyone. Laughter is good for the soul and I'm sure you would want us to laugh and smile, you did it, because when it's time to be serious and taciturn, then we too can remind ourselves of how you could be when the going gets tough. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. God made your dreams to become a seasoned police officer, Officer Cook, come true. Of course, we wanted you to be here to celebrate all the happy occasions of your family and friends. Your helping them arrange and prepare these events along with Our Maker in heaven. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
In the central place of every heart, there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage, so long you are young. The beauty of a young life well-lived, Officer Cook is always how you will fondly be remembered. Your heart literally worked out of the Central District providing the finest and most quality service that an excellent police officer like yourself could give to its citizens. They should be forever grateful, those that are still alive and well today. Your good name and all that it stood for and stands for today is alive and well in those officers and your loved ones who so faithfully carry on your mission. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
From the world we see, hear, and touch, we behold visions that reveal God's glory. In the sun's light, we catch warm rays of grace and glimpse His eternal design. In the bird's song, we hear His voice and it reawakens our desire for Him. At the wind's touch, we feel His spirit and sense our eternal existence. This is how Officer Cook, we know you were on God's green earth and producing marvelously as a dedicated police officer. Your beloved spirit touches us in some fashion every waking moment and even at night as we retire for the evening, it reminds us of your soft and gentle ways. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. I don't know if you ever had a bird as a pet, but if you did, it probably made the same sweet sounds as you spoke during your lifetime.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
May God give you eyes to see beauty only the heart can understand. All those who were indeed blessed to witness your work ethic and see the ever vibrant and sweet-tempered gentleman that you were, Officer Cook were truly very fortunate. I would look at your picture taken in the book,"Forgotten Heroes" and would cry, because when I see someone who is not here with us and this includes my parents I'll get emotional, breakdown and sob like a baby. I did that at your parents house last year when I met Gina, Trevor and their kids, your two great-nieces, Alexis and Skyler and your great-nephew, Legend. Grown men and women do cry from time to time. I'm sure there were times you cried. When you dad, Charles, passed away in 1976 or 1977, you cried, it's normal. Because I never met you and to this day I'm sorry I never did, it's emotional your untimely passing, since I still remember the details of your passing. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. I did at least as I reflected before, kicked a soccer ball in the backyard with Legend and he enjoyed it. Still thinking about you and the rich life you lead and exemplified through you good deeds and honest intentions.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
A wise gardener plants his seeds, then has the good sense not to dig them up every few days to see if a crop is on the way. Likewise, we must be patient as God brings the answers...in His own good time. We can ask why God caused your tragic passing. Most normal thinking people assume there is a reason for everything. This is why God gives us tests each day to see if we are up to the challenges and to examine our resolve in Him. One day we will see you again and then we can all embrace you and realize exactly the quality gentleman you were and why you pursued a career as an officer to bring about peace and good will among us. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy, if the root is holy, so are the branches. Everything that came from your being was holy, Officer Cook. Whenever you planned something, it was only for the good, as is your holy spirit which is ascending each and every day, looking out and observing how we are proceeding with our very lives. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
May you be ever present in the garden of His love. I'm sure you enjoyed working in your yard with Karen and playing in your parents backyard with your friends. As you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero in God's green garden along with your beloved father, Charles, we pause to reflect on the meaning of life and the life you lead with fervor and a cause. You were motivated to really make a difference in society and you did.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
The love of God is broader than the measure of our mind and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. I'm pretty sure you thought at times "outside the box." You were Officer Cook, a gifted and caring person who only had the community and its best interests in mind when you performed your duties ever so faithfully. The tactical means you had to formulate to bring about a positive result had to be done obviously within the confines of the law and regulations of your department. Your spirit is now residing with Our Creator as you my neighbor, friend and hero rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His spirit. Then He will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is. may you experience the love of Him, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish indefinitely more than we might ask or think. As you lived Officer Cook, as you matured and then became a police officer, as you were going through the process, you placed your entire being and trust in God, who helped steer you through the toughness of your profession. Police work is not an easy task by any means, it takes all the physical prowess and mental aptitude one can muster. I salute you and all the other men and women of law enforcement who willingly accept these challenges that ordinary people would not tackle. Your fortitude, bravery and courage will outshine all others as your legacy forever more. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 19, 2013
It is love that asks, that seeks, that knocks, that finds and is faithful to what it finds. To find you Officer Cook, we know where you are and your soul hears our prayers and the message in which they are conveyed to you. You sought peace at all costs and were not afraid totally of what might happen. You and your fellow comrades all are aware of what that cost may be and your courage will never go unrewarded. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
I am going to explain this next saying after reflecting, because I don't want people reading this to possibly take it out of context. A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. The branches of you tree Officer Cook, are well spread out across your family. You lived a humble life, the home you were raised here in NMB and the one you and Karen lived in Norland were humble and I would say not extravagant, meaning you lived according to your means. You both worked long hours and your position was one of possible danger at any time, but you and Karen knew that this was what you desired to become. She always loved you and cared for you and after your life was taken, it was very difficult for her I'm sure, a young woman, a young wife without the love of her life, her devoted husband, Officer William C. Cook. Your soul flourishes in all your loved ones and their pursuits and this would make you both happy and proud of them. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your life Officer Cook gives us all the meaning and reason to really dream big and pursue what you really want to get out of life in a fitting and proper way.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
The rewards of love are always greater than its cost. Because you loved doing a job with passion, Officer Cook and for what you went through to achieve success on a higher level than most achieve, now comes God who is uplifting your soul to a height we will never fully comprehend. You devoted many long hours, days, nights, sunny, cloudy and downright dismal times to provide us with that ray of hope and that was to be able to live unafraid and to pursue our dreams of which you were able to make something wonderful of yourself. The cost of a life, to say the least one cannot place a value amount on it. You just have to try and know the person who gave up their existence, so you could go on living and aspiring just as they so faithfully did. I did not know you personally, but I feel in my heart by meeting your nephew, Justin and your niece Gina, and of course receiving a lovely letter from your beloved mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, that I can say I kind of knew the quality individual you were and the value you had in this community. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. North Miami Beach was very blessed as was the Norland community to have had you in their midst for as long as you were there.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
When faithfulness is most difficult, it can be most rewarding. True living presupposes the love of God; indeed, it is itself a true love of Him in the highest form. Divine love, enlightening our soul and making us pleasing to God, it is called grace. Giving us power to do good, it is called charity. When it reaches the point of perfection where it makes us earnestly, frequently and readily do good, it is called devotion. Officer Cook, you and your fellow comrades who all made the ultimate sacrifice above and beyond duty all share these tremendous characteristics. The rewards are endless. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
Regardless of whether we feel strong or weak in our faith, we remember that our assurance is not based upon our ability to conjure up some special feeling. Rather, it is built upon a confident assurance in the faithfulness of God. We focus on His trustworthiness and especially on His steadfast love. If we focus on what we really need to hone in on, Officer Cook, then we can truly accept that your life really had meaning and be able to try to accept that God had plans for you that most would not understand. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
O God, creator of light: at the rising of Your sun this morning, let the greatest of all lights, Your love, rise like the sun within our hearts. Let your soul Officer Cook rise one day and for us to see it once again fully glowing. Keep watch over us every moment and guide our steps in a most just and proper way. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
May they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength. As you personified, Officer Cook, may we too go from strength to strength. Unity and good health, peace shall always prevail. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
He paints the lily of the field. Perfumes each lily bell; If he so loves the little flowers, I know He loves me well. We all loved you well, Officer Cook. The aroma of your daily profession will always stay with us forever, it won't disappear. You'll always by cared for and whatever needs to be taken care of will be done in your name. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
His tenderness in the springing grass, His beauty in the flowers, His living love in the sun above- All here and near and ours. This is what you appreciated Officer Cook, when you went out into the field to take pictures of nature at its finest. The beauty that sometimes we all take for granted. I'm sure as devout as you and Karen were, you both never took life or anything for granted. The times you spent together were well spent indeed. Just wished you could have been here longer, but Our Creator had other spiritual plans for men and women like yourself who are special in the things they do to accentuate safety. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
Our Creator would never have made such lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal. Obviously no one is beyond life, meaning no one is Godly. God gives us life, takes that very life He gives, and yet our souls as does your very special soul, Officer Cook, stay up in the heavens above watching over us and keeping us on our toes. It instills in us the reasons why we must follow a proper course in all we achieve. This is why you were successful as a police officer. The righteous life you lived was your identification and this can never be taken from you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We do come closer to God by trying to obey His commandments
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 18, 2013
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