Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

May the King of the Universe extend your lives, increase your days and add to your years. may you be saved from all trouble and delivered from all mishap. May the Lord of Heaven be your help at all times and in every season. Amen. Officer Cook, I know of of those who you knew and loved would like for you to be alive and well today. We thank our Creator for putting such true men and women such as yourself in the profession of serving and protecting our interests. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. We will never forget your sacrifice on our behalf.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 15, 2012

Officer Cook, in one reflection today, I meant to say you were of upstanding and of fine character. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 13, 2012

As a drop of water in the sea, as a grain of sand on the shore are man's few days in eternity. The good things in life last for limited days, but a good name endures forever. The good name you personified Officer Cook, will last as your legacy for all your days. You family and friends are very proud to share your good name and professional accomplishments that were achieved with honest hard work, done so with morals and ethics. The dignity shown to all who you came in contact with will remain equally important. Rest in peace, in dignity and honor along with your father, Charles, my neighbor, friend and hero. Please send some more droplets of water our way.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 13, 2012

True instruction was on his lips and he did not give voice to unrighteousness. he walked with the Lord in peace, uprightly, and he turned away from iniquity. Truer words could not be spoken. Officer Cook, you were the upstanding police officer that all who knew you, still cherish and honor you memory through the great deeds that you performed daily. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 13, 2012

O Lord, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? who shall abide upon Your holy mountain? He who lives with integrity such as you, Officer Cook. You did what was the right thing to do that day and always dealt with others honestly. A vile person is to be despised, but God honors those who revere Him. You were very revered and you fine and upstanding character will forever follow you as you patrol heavens streets. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 13, 2012

Wealth and honor are yours to dispense. It is God who bestows greatness and a good name on a person. You utilized your mouth and lips properly all during your life, Officer Cook. When you needed to address a person on duty, I'm sure you were polite and yet firm when called upon. Submission is the character trait of humility. lowliness and felling insignificant. The character trait of a person's soul is humility which allows itself to manifest through one's actions. A person will speak gently and quietly, and will remain sweet-tempered, not vengeful and retaliate. Officer Cook, God provided you with loads of understanding and enduring compassion, and I can see why such a wonderful woman, your wife Karen , came into your treasured life. You and Karen uplifted each other daily through your compassion and devoutness to God. We all try to carry on that which you left for us and the valuable lessons of what it truly means to give up one's existence for others. Rest in peace and let your smile shine bright with humbleness and compassion for all to witness.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2012

The powerful person is one who can master themselves. Dedicating one's actions to God means that whenever one serves God- either publicly or privately-his intentions are for the sake of His Name alone and not to impress others. As devout a gentleman as you were Officer Cook, and the exemplary life you lived, you employed these particular steps to achieve success at work and when you and tour wife, Karen lived privately. You accepted God's Oneness. You had recognition of God constantly bestowing kindness your way. You served God as a devout person and public servant. Trusting God to help you through your shift. No one could harm you or your family without Our creator's will. To let praise and insult go to your head as so many believe they are better off this way. You remained humble and patient. You conducted your law enforcement affairs and stayed on the proper path and you let god guide you intellectually and accepted advice when you needed it the most. A veteran officer of thirty years still needs to rely on advice from time to time and make proper decisions accordingly. My friend, neighbor and hero you were wise and mature beyond your twenty-five years and it is this inane wisdom that allowed you to function with honestly, dignity and integrity throughout your distinguished career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. Rest in peace and your honor will forever be your legacy.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2012

Arrogance breeds impatience. This my neighbor, friend and beloved hero, Officer Cook you were not. The fruit of rushing is regret and as a duly trained Metro-Dade Police Officer, you and your partner had to think things through. That terrible day of May 16, 1979, you drove to a call that you dealt with many other times. At least while driving to the scene, you had a few moments to ponder and then you had to react and make split-second decisions. You had to employ patience as a dialogue, cope with uncertainty, and assert yourself as an officer respectfully. This definitely is difficult to accomplish for a normal thinking person. As an officer you don't get too much time to think. How you react to take control of a situation becomes critical. Officer Cook, you reacted properly and as best as you could, God was steering you and your colleagues through a web of evil and you were there to diffuse a dilemma gone wrong. You were brave and courageous beyond a shadow of doubt and for this Dade County citizens should be forever in debt to you. Rest in peace and assist us on how to cope with life's share of issues.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 12, 2012

Everyone faces choices in their daily lives. It is the one who stays totally committed to the tasks at hand that will succeed in the end. I would imagine in all the classes you took in college, Officer Cook, this served you well while studying in the police academy. The long hours spent were well worth it. Yet, the physical and emotional rigors of the school prepared you for what you would face when you began your Metro-Dade Police Department career patrolling Dade County streets. The total commitment to your family, and position demonstrated the work ethic and intensity with which you brought to work each day. Your calming demeanor and passion to help make people safer will never be forgotten. The sacrifice you and your forty-one other colleagues at the Metro-Dade Police Department made shows the fabric of your beings. The families you came from, the many colleagues you worked with and made friends with from other departments, only reinforces the uniqueness of your personalities. The skill you so portrayed in calming those who needed someone to listen to, this takes someone special as you my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook. Rest in peace and the commitments you made to others, will never go undone nor be forgotten.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

The quality of unconditional love and compassion is something that is ingrained in a person from the time they are old enough to comprehend. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you were meticulous in showing everyone respect, on and off your position. A person who constantly works on acts of kindness, will free themselves of anger. You were not a man of anger who held grudges against anyone. Just a water reflects a face, so too does the heart of one person reflect that of another. you epitomized the role of an officer who was "centered and balanced." Rest in peace and every time you smile down upon us, we should think of a stream of water.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

Patience is a virtue which a police officer must practice daily when dealing with the public. officer Cook, you were a master at this and because of this you are reaping your reward in heaven. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 8, 2012

There are those who speak like a sword that stabs: and the words of the wise heal. There are two basic approaches that are possible to take when you see someone doing something wrong. One is to speak harshly, I don't think on duty you did this Officer Cook. You tried to observe and correct with your calming tone and peaceful manner. Be wise. Words spoken in anger can only escalate a problem. Unfortunately, on May 16,1979, you tried your very best to do the right thing and a calm a very despondent young man down who had taken his girlfriend hostage. Tragically, he wanted to end his life in a what we refer to as a "blaze of glory." This was not the way to deal with his problem. We all have problems, I cannot fathom that every one in this world has no troubles. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you and your partner, Reserve Officer Scott Lincoln tried your utmost along with your two colleagues, tried to end a tense situation and in the end your life was taken for no good reason. The only thing positive to gain from such a tragedy, would be to utilize your sacrifice in training future police recruits on proper police conduct and how to maintain law and order by the book. All of your actions were deemed proper and I guess possibly if Metro-Dade police officers were afforded side panels, you might be alive and well today enjoying your retirement. God had other plans, and has a true blue and humble angel to help Him watch over us. Rest in peace and help those who serve and protect do it correctly,as you so achieved with the department. I'll always say a prayer for your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, and my family hopes you enjoy a healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving day holiday.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

The virtue of humility, arrogance's opposite, is an awareness that everything we have is a gift from Our Creator. Humility has nothing to do with feeling inferior. It is rather an accurate perception of reality. It is an awareness of one's smallness and limitations in comparison to the vastness of the Creator's creation. Humility contains an awareness of our own intrinsic worth as well as the inherent value of every other person on the planet. True humility which you possessed Officer Cook, allowed to go about the physical and mental rigors of your position. We all make mistakes and it takes a humble person to admit when they are wrong. You and your wife, Karen were probably two of the most humble and joyful people to be associated with. Although, you were married just for a short period of time does not mean that you were not happy. From the day of your wedding until the day God called and took you suddenly from our midst those that knew you were very glad to have known you. for the sacrifices working nights and I believe you were going to have you first weekend off together since working the day shift. I'll never forget you even after these thirty-three years. You are missed by your mother, sister, all of your relatives, friends, colleagues and community at large, those you served and defended. You were a brave person who stayed the course to defeat evil and your sacrifice will forever stand as a legacy for us to carry on. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

Each and every one of us would like to go through the day feeling happy and enthusiastic. Who does not want to feel calm and relaxed tackling life's challenges? Positive feelings of patience, compassion, empowerment, and love are too precious for us to allow them to be dependent on external factors. It takes time to develop emotional self-mastery. But it's worth it. Control over own state of mind puts the buttons to happiness machine in our hands. When happiness fills our lives, anger is left out in the cold. Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero you were able to harness all of the above. In your position as an officer, you had to be firm and unyielding at times, calm most of the time. Compassion you maintained when the situation called for it. A police officer cannot bring anger or any sense of tenseness to their jobs for it could lead to a dangerous dilemma. Your calming approach in dealing with individuals served you and your partners during your six years as a dedicated Metro-Dade Police Officer. Rest in calming peace and shine down on those who serve and protect us with your compassion and youthful enthusiasm.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 7, 2012

We can't possibly know when our making the world better has been achieved. No one knows when they are going to leave this world. Yet, we should remember that we are mortals. The living shall take it to heart. I'm sure Officer Cook, you took nothing for granted. When brave men and women sign on to become police officers, it is with free choice and they are told of the risks. My neighbor, friend and hero, you accepted these challenges readily, and were passionate in everything you put your whole life into in making us safer. God only knows when He is ready for us. Our days of reckoning should begin long before our final journey. Our priorities on how we think, speak and conduct our daily lives should standout. Our objective is to perform good deeds, emulate how you comported yourself and have complete trust in God. Rest in peace and help us stay on course in carrying out our objectives.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

God gives us tests each waking moment to see if we are up to the challenge. Understanding that a given situation is for the best is not trust that everything is for the best. Comprehension is a much lower level than trust. At the point where the brain no longer understands how God is doing everything for the best, trust begins. In other words, trust kicks in when the brain kicks out. When we put our brains aside and activate our trust button, we are happier, and our brains operate more efficiently. Trust now enhances our brain power and our ability to cope under any situation. What transpired to you Officer Cook, is normally and understandably difficult to figure out why, but your family, friends, colleagues and those who cared so much for you, can still cherish the wonderful memories of a life well-lived and all the accolades that come your way are well deserved. We must still subjugate our will to God's will. When society can rein in evil and corruption, then perhaps we can sit back and say this is what God planned all along for us. Your were the savior and knight in shining armor, you made yourself available to serve and protect us and you left a beautiful legacy for all to cherish. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

He shall be like a tree replanted by streams of water that yields fruit in due season, and whose leaf never withers. And everything he does will succeed. Not so the wicked: They are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked shall not be vindicated in judgment, nor the sinful in the assembly of the righteous. For God recognizes the way of he righteous, while the way of the wicked is doomed. A refreshing thought Officer Cook, my neighbor, friend and hero, a quiet and humble caring soul, who looked for the positive in people and dealt with the everyday challenges of your profession with grace and humility. The sacrifice you made on behalf of Dade County and its citizens, should be compared to a flowing stream of water. The patience you exhibited on May 16, 1979, as well as each day of your six years of duty was well planned, and only we might know one day why God needed an angel such as yourself to watch over us. The heroism you displayed will never be forsaken. You are an inspiration to all. Rest in peace and watch over us as your colleagues in this world wage war against evil and corruption.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 6, 2012

You acted as a true hero the day your life was suddenly taken Officer Cook. You transcended above normality, and that in itself is why the world is a safer haven for all to live and enjoy. When attitude and action are combined together with trust, they can for sure form a pretty powerful and yet positive result. It's men and women like you, Officer Cook, who risk their lives daily and have to make split-second decisions in the face of the evil, that one day we hope will be totally eradicated from society. To have stood your ground, and give all that God created within you and try to make a peaceful resolution, that says plenty of of stellar character and makes people proud of you. A brave soul who yearned to make a difference, we can't say enough. We just need to remind ourselves, that you can make a difference. You kept your compass pointing in one direction, and that was to stay the course and do whatever was in your power from an ethical and legal course to make individuals behave in a more peaceful manner. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, as your soul ascends to the heavens above.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Creation, revelation, and redemption are the three pivotal aspects of human history. All were ascribed to God. God created the world, revealed His will to humanity and promised the ultimate redemption. Each act undertaken by God, was for the benefit of human beings, and humanity has a share in all three tasks: in creating the world, in revealing God's infinite will, and in ushering in redemption. let us hope and pray when we a long least are united with the cherished souls of you, Officer Cook and your beloved dad, Charles who so touched this world with passion and grace and and channeled that into making this a better place to live and be prosperous. I can't imagine two finer men than the two of you who are forever being cradled in God's palm.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Once we develop a deep sense of trust that God, by way of Divine providence, does everything for our ultimate benefit to guide us on the path of our needed soul correction, then the pieces of the puzzle of life suddenly come together in a picture of striking clarity. With these principles in mind, trust becomes the universal answer to all of life's questions. Sometimes, Officer Cook, I wonder why you decided to become a police officer. But, from the time you were a young man, you had a certain passion to help others, even though certain professions carry risks associated with them. To this day, we will probably never know why on May 16, 1979, events unfolded that ultimately ended with you making the ultimate sacrifice to protect your fellow officers. God has a Divine plan for us all. Sometimes, people live to a ripe old age, others do not. Some people who commit evil live longer than others who carry on a righteous life. You were blessed with a good life, a fruitful and productive career with the Metro-Dade Police Department. The world, your family and colleagues miss your presence. But, we know you are patrolling God's heavenly streets, where you watch is quieter. Rest in serene peace my neighbor, friend and hero to us all. You made that who knew you proud and I'm proud to have heard and read about your accomplishments.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 5, 2012

Officer Cook, you were a source of strength to draw from when your family experienced the loss of your beloved father, Charles. You were the loving and giving son who never gave your parents any problem. You and Nancy, your loving sister were the foundations of your parents. The embodiment of the very values that were ingrained in both of you. Long since your untimely passing, the values that stayed with you for the wonderful and meaningful twenty-five years of life so richly lived. You honored everyone regardless of faith, race, background, this is what makes a person the reason for them being created. We are placed in this world to do good deeds and make everybody appreciate their intrinsic value to one another. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and help us understand what our roles are, in that which defines our existence. We need to maintain proper focus, complete trust and fruitful faith to carry us all the days of our lives. Your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, always displayed her trust and faith, even during the tragedies that occurred in your family and that is precisely why God has allowed her to live ninety-seven wonderfully healthy and prosperous years.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

In essence, trust is growth power. It's the moving force that helps a person such as you, Officer Cook achieve personal gain more than anything else in the universe. This trust gives a person the will to live and the power not only to withstand tough times, but to gain by them. Trust resembles the deep roots of a tree that enable it to withstand wind, storm, and drought. The power of trust is vast, and one with this trust fears nothing. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you were a confident person, a happy person, who faith allowed you to assist others even though what occurred that day was something that was not entirely in your power to harness. The evil that was perpetrated on you and your fellow officers, was based on anger a very angry young man who lacked simple faith in God and let his emotions get the best of him. Still it is not an excuse for what he did to you and your colleagues. Anger destroys lives and we can be sure not to forget the challenge you faced and the attempt to calm a violent situation. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero, you dealt with life's challenges faithfully, placing complete trust in God and now God's watching over you, and shining your trust and faith down from heaven upon us.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

You gave your parents Officer Cook, much satisfaction and gratification. A beautiful human being. You were a sensitive, considerate, and humble son. You always evaluated yourself to see where you improve something. You were the loving son so devoted to your parents, and after your dad, Charles passed away, you visited your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook, either before or after ending your shift to check on her. What a devoted person you were. You made your parents so very proud, what else could we say.Your thoughts, speech and deeds are how you are going to be remembered. Of course, the sacrifice you made in the line of duty will never be forgotten by my family or those who knew you and knew the trust you placed in Our Creator. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 4, 2012

We have free choice over how we cope with life's difficult situations. They appear in our daily lives whether or not we want them. Happy is the person who readily accepts these tests or challenges. My neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, you stepped up to the plate for six years recognizing the challenges of protecting and serving Dade County and its citizens. You didn't shy away from a challenge. You stood eye to eye and face to face to endeavor to confront evil along with your partner and colleagues that day in Liberty City. God watches over those who serve Him loyally and you sir did absolutely that. You did not back down. You were as calm as you could possibly be and when you needed to employ other methods you did the very best, as you and your colleagues were trained to do. You maintained a positive outlook during a tough dilemma, kept your poise. The trust you so possessed during your life allowed you to not be bitter and broken in spirit. We are broken-hearted at your loss. Patient endurance, the result of trust, paves the road to genuine tranquility. Without this trust the world becomes a purgatory worse than the purgatory itself. We face choices every moment of our lives, you faced one and you were not required to answer that particular call and yet you did and protected your fellow officers from harm and in doing so sacrificed your being so others could carry on your legacy. They don't make heroes like you Officer Cook. Rest in trusting peace along with your dad, Charles, my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2012

Trust enables us to be happy and to understand God's individual message for each of us.. Even when we don't succeed in grasping God's message, we should never the less accept out current circumstances happily. You were that kind of person who readily accepted the challenges and rigors of what was expected of you as a Metro-Dade Police Officer. We are obligated to make a blessing on the bad sincerely and willfully, in the same manner we do on the good. I'm sure you family as devout as they are say prayers thanking God for all the goodness both you and your dad, Charles represented in the world. I'll always keep your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook in my prayers. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 3, 2012