Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Reflections for Police Officer William Coleman Cook
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. Your beautiful smile Officer Cook could light up the most darkest hour and your understanding was comparable to a stream of water flowing up a river. Your wife Karen, married you because of all the class and goodness that you represented because of your spectacular upbringing. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 29, 2013
My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my instructions. You never slighted anyone Officer Cook. You were as solid as a rock when it came to following and leading officers by virtue of your vast maturity. Your father, Charles, my you both rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, always knew how great a son he raised and nurtured with all the good values that offspring ought to have. the same for your sister, Nancy. She and your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook hold you and your father very near to their hearts. I can't imagine you, not being here with them. But they know one day when they cross the veil, both of you will be waiting with open arms to greet them.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 29, 2013
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Based upon your stellar career, Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero, it's obvious with your infinite intellect which made you wiser than your years, you were able to size up a problem and figure a way to solve it. We know God works in mysterious ways, but for what it's worth, you accomplished much more in twenty-five years than those of us do in a lifetime. You forever will be a shining legacy in your department, the officer who could be trusted in crucial moments. Rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 29, 2013
It is in the shelter of each other that people live. You forever reside in God's everlasting shelter, Officer Cook, your watch is to help God protect those who give of themselves everyday to make us safe. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
What steps of wisdom lead us to a place of trust? Let us look for what is good in our situation. Minimize what is bad. calmly, quietly trust in God. Relax and let God take full control. Yes, quietly trust. That's all we can do Officer Cook. As you would do and did so faithfully for twenty-five years. God is the pilot, he does not need us to steer His rudder, but He gives us opportunities daily to come closer to Him as you and Karen did with honor and love. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich and he adds no sorrow to it. For those who knew you, Officer Cook, it was indeed a privilege and a blessing. There is of course sadness in losing you, but one day we will all meet you again. Then we will have plenty of moments to share and communicate how we felt toward you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
Lord, grant me a quiet mind, that trusting Thee, for Thou art kind, I may go on without a fear, for Thou, my Lord, art always near. You are so very near and dear to us Officer Cook, if we want to converse with you. The grass may not answer, but surely your beloved soul will navigate us in the right direction to hope and jubilation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. You valued your being, Officer Cook, by the words of God and now you'll never be harmed by anyone as you rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Help us keep up the war on evil.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
If the Lord be with us, we have on cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer-His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable. If words could bring you back to us Officer Cook, do you how happy we would be? Gleeful beyond words. But God looks over us as you and your father, His two shining angels assist Him in battling evil down here. Your body and all its parts that you demonstrated can help us are just like dust, but your soul, that hovers overhead steering us to higher endeavors. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
A troubled witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. There is a saying Officer Cook: loose lips sink ships and I know that you were a righteous and honorable man who did not deserve to be taken from us in such an ignominious fashion. I'll never forget you and still wished we could have met. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
Character is so largely affected by associations that we cannot afford to be indifferent as to who and what our friends are. They write their names in our albums, but they do more, they help make us what we are. Be therefore careful in selecting them; and when wisely selected, never sacrifice them. The people you aligned with Officer Cook, knew you would always assist them and that day you were there on your own accord to save them from further harm by giving up your life and in doing so are forever ever honored. To have read the guestbook signed by those who attended your Inspector's Funeral and celebrate your Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral only reinforces the outpouring of love affection for a person as yourself who lived each moment the way they should. I wished I had read the book signed by those in attendance, the esteem they held for you was amazing as they said a final farewell to you. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You would have given a stranger the shirt off your back if you could and Karen and you were two of the most beneficent people in your community.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have them ready on your lips. You'll forever be in our hearts Officer Cook, and the magnificence of your character will be there for us eternally to treasure. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. I would expect that when you spoke people tended to gravitate toward you. Your saintly advice will always stay in our minds until we see you and your father, Charles again.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
Rather than placing all the emphasis on earthly, tangible treasures, our Lord instructs us to turn our attention to those intangible treasures that defy destruction and cannot be stolen- eternal treasures that keep the perspective clear. The sharpness and clearness of your mission Officer Cook, was to make people's life safer so they could prosper in their endeavors. Your humbleness and the way you lived fit your persona perfectly. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Nothing can take away from your stellar career and its achievements.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. As easygoing as you were Officer Cook, there may have been times though not too many when you had to hold back on saying a word that might not have been correct. I do not think that happened because of your reputation for proper conduct and speech befitting a veteran officer. Calmness was your way of getting things done right and diffusing situations. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
It's usually through out hard times, the unexpected and non-according-to-plan times, that we experience God in more intimate ways. We discover an unquenchable longing to know Him more. it's a passion that isn't concerned that life fall within certain predictable lines, but a passion that pursues God and knows he is relentless in His pursuit of each one of us. Your passionate pursuit of becoming a highly successful police officer, Officer Cook was because of your desire to contribute to the world in a uniquely positive manner in making us feel safe and secure. God stirred your way as you went through each and every step of the way to gain insight and to broaden your parameters of the challenges that lied ahead of you. Your relentlessness and commitment will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
God guards knowledge with a passion, but he'll have nothing to do with deception. first Officer Cook, I used the word harbored friendships in describing how you made friends from all over. I believe the proper word I should have used was fostered friendships. God guards your precious soul with all the passion you so vigorously employed. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero with the knowledge that God brings forth to justice all evildoers.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 28, 2013
The greatest honor we can give God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of His love. You loved life, your wife, Karen and your entire family and they love you Officer Cook. You happily accepted whatever circumstances came your way. The honor with which you made the ultimate sacrifice can never be put aside. We will always remember your fearlessness. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. The intuition you boldly showed won't be forgotten.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. This is the sole reason why good people like you Officer Cook, pursue careers in law enforcement. A person who is not of sound mind can run into difficulties of which they may not escape. Your intellect taught other officers the proper way of doing things. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
What matters supremely is not the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it-the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of His hands. I am never out of His mind. All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me and continues to know me. Officer Cook, you are now being cradled in God's heavenly palms along with your beloved father, Charles. You knew God would watch over you as you performed your solemn duties.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
Their Defender is strong; He will take up their case against you. You took up Officer Cook, all of Our Creator's defenses and pursued righteousness with true honor and humility. Your life was compared to building a tower, as high as it may be, the foundation had to start a ground zero. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, as you now reside in the loftiest of heights, with other angels who took up the same causes as you.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend the rest of your life there, never omitting an opportunity of doing a kindness or speaking a true word, or making a friend. You moved here at age one, Officer Cook, and grew up and achieved success in all your endeavors and always harbored friendships along the way that lasted until your tragic passing. I would think that Karen might still keep in touch with your friends who are able to contact her. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Citizens ran to you Officer Cook, when times of trouble were upon them. Your positive attitude and graceful mannerisms allowed you to carry on in a most professional way. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 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. A person tries to channel their efforts most of the time into doing God's will. Officer Cook, as one of God's messengers, you chose to train for a position in which you solemnly served and protect people from evil. This message was spread until your last watch of which we are all grateful for your sacrifice and being that special angel who now you assist God as he watches over those in this world who deal with every challenge all too often. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. You were a very caring individual who always went the extra mile to help and assist others. I just wonder how we can possibly ever repay you for your effort?
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
Do not take overmuch thought for tomorrow. God, who has led you safely on so far, will lead you on to the end. be altogether at rest in the loving holy confidence which you ought to have in His heavenly providence. God always guides a person's journeys through their lives. Your mission, Officer Cook, was to become the very best at your job of which you excelled. Accountability and credibility were the reasons you were successful in all your endeavors until the end. you'll not be forgotten and you should rest in peace, my neighbor, friend and hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 27, 2013
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Amen to this Officer Cook. Your cunning and wise choices in life got you from point A to point B without many detours. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Your mind was like a sponge, always soaking up the drops of learning to pass on to those who waited for them.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
January 26, 2013
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