Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our days begin with trouble here, our life is but a span and cruel death is always near, so frail a thing is man. You were not frail, Officer Cook and yes sometimes in your profession an officer can encounter trouble right after roll call. It has happened on occasion. Either an officer gave their life by gunfire or being struck by a train one hour after graduating from the police academy. Whatever the role, you were always there, Officer Cook, to back us up and now as your back up, let us consider how our very actions will reflect on our lives and hopefully in a positive manner. You would be proud of your relatives and their accomplishments, they of course would love for you to be with them, but you are with them and the entire community you so dearly cherished in spirit. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

I meant to say, Officer Cook, your crowning achievements were conceived in humbleness and dignity that will never fade away. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few. The manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten. The living sap of today outgrows the dead rind of yesterday. The hand entrusted with power becomes, either from human depravity or esprit de corps, the necessary enemy of the people. Only by continued oversight can the democrat in office be prevented from hardening into a despot; only by unintermitted agitation can a people be sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. The prosperity you enjoyed, Officer Cook, was given to you by God for loyally protecting his flock and since you were one of His loyal servants, he saw to it that you would be remembered by all who witnessed you heroic acts of bravery and courage in making us feel secure. And you will never be out of our sight or minds. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night; but, oh, my foes and oh, my friends- it gives a lovely light. Your light, Officer Cook, your life, your soul still to this day does shine very brightly and your crowning achieved conceived in humbleness and dignity will never fade away. The past belongs to God: the present only is ours. And short as it is, there is more to it and of it, than we can well manage. My neighbor, friend and hero, there indeed was so much more to grasp. God was there on May 16, 1979, to grasp hold of you one last time and take you on an eternal journey of a lifetime. This one required no ticket, or admitance fee, only the two of you together as partners, now patrolling side by side. Rest in peace. Of course I cried too today when it I visited your grave and I'll always try to be there for your loving family and I'll keep your mother, Mrs. Julia Cook in my thoughts and prayers as I wrote to her.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Life has its heroes and you were among the many, Officer Cook. Tell me not, in mournful numbers, life is but an empty dream!-For the soul is dead that slumbers and things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. Your life, Officer Cook, was filled with many exciteful moments. Graduating from the police academy and having your badge pinned on your chest. True and true it was not a goal for you to be slumbering now, your soul travels all around as your being rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero in the lush green ground where God was waiting to rejoin you and your father, Charles, together again until your loving family reunites with both of you.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

A noble life, crowned with heroic death, rises above and outlives the pride, pomp and glory of the mightiest empire of the earth. Officer Cook, your career and life accomplishments were marked by Auxilliary Bishop John Nevins in his eulogy of you. The gathering that day of May 19, 1979, a rather hot day in Miami was when all your family, colleagues and friends came together one last time to pay their respects and honor to you for the privilege of having served with them. The discipline that you needed when policing was always evident and those salutes to you meant so very much to your loving family who relished having you in their midst as their hero. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

You were at your happiest, Officer Cook, when you were out in the streets of Dade County motivating and cultivating relationships within the community you so dearly were fond of. Truly remarkable. You did live greatly and your police record would bear the full light of day from its beginning until your final watch. That is why officers sholuld make each of their watches special and take extra care in minding the streets. You lived for others and this is why your life was worthwhile. You gave back to society and it is our onus to gave back the same. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. As a police officer, Officer Cook, you placed your trust and hope that all the training you received would translate into granting us the democracy and freedoms that we so desire. God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it. Unless you are willing to tranfer it to others, you cannot have true liberty. Officers are at liberty to act at times in unusual circumstances so long as they act within the framework of the law they are sworn to uphold. You gave Officer Cook, so we can receive something very special on the other end. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain. Your pursuits, Officer Cook, were always for the good of the community and we would not be in this shape if not for heroes and heroines like you who boldly faced evil and gave it their all. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

The law must be stable, but it must not stand still. You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free. This is the job of all police officers, to make sure that stability exists within the ranks. One bad apple, a police officer can undermine an entire department making it harder for all officers to function properly. Officer Cook, you were properly prepared for your role to go out into the community and offer them your finest efforts. They deserve nothing less and the officer who was wearing Badge#1664: Officer William C. Cook, always gave total concentration to the matters at hand. Liberty trains for liberty. Responsibility is the first step in responsibility. You are to be commended for your first class dedication, concern and patience in carrying out your duties, my neighbor, friend and hero. Rest in peace. If there is any officer today in Dade County or other departments who proudly wear Badge#1664, may be they have been told who carried this badge of honor and dignity close to their heart. You were the officer who always prepared for any action that may have come your way.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good and I died in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my Creator. You gave your life, Officer Cook, so that all other citizens can lead their lives by God's loving will. You allowed God to direct both your pathway in life and that of Karen's, too. We could not be prouder of both how you lived your life and how you sacrificed for our safety and freedoms. We don't get to choose how long we are here, but we know you certainly had more years, many more in serving Our Creator. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

Today, I visited your grave, Officer Cook and someone placed lovely red, white and blue flowers in honor of the upcoming July fourth holiday, as well as two whirlybirds spinning in the wind. Perhaps, Gina, you and Trevor,along with your children visited their great-uncle's grave along with your mother, Nancy. He was a great man, a true hero and visionary. Today, before I visited his grave I was driving by NW 17th Avenue and NW 75th Street and the sign that bears his name. He would indeed be pleased of all the new buildings and houses being built in the area he policed and so loved. God fills the gaps of human need, each crisis brings its word and deed. Officer Cook, you were a man of your word and put into synchronization all of your loving deeds and kindnesses for us to witness. I stopped off at a local business after dropping my son, Joshua off at his summer job as a volunteer at The Miami Jewish Health Systems at Douglas Gardens. Hope your family, Gina has an enjoyable summer and hope to see your soon. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 25, 2013

The search is for the just word, the happy phrase, that will give expression to the thought, but somehow the thought itself is transfigured by the phrase when found. Fortunately, you always thought before speaking, Officer Cook and this was the main reason you were an excellent communicator. You placed your passion in the language you spoke and people were able to understand the messages you were conveying to them. Every language is a temple, in which the soul of those who speak it is enshrined. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and allow your loving and giving soul to speak to us as well as to others with the compassion and grace that dignified your being and helped to accentuate your honorable career. Folks like you, Officer Cook are surely better than angels. We get a chance each day to start anew and to climb as high as we can. To be able to embrace you once again is our goal and with every endeavor that chance increases mightily.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

If we could first know where we are and whether we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it. Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to re-establish it. It is not originally a thing of itself, but is only the absence of knowledge; and though man may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant. Ignorance is no excuse for committing crime and lack of knowledge when there is information out and around is too no reason to act the way certain people act. This is why we have devoted men and women like you, Officer Cook, out in the community policing and sharing information regarding our welfare. Offering assistance to those in need. Some officers themselves have tragically gotten involved in the wrong dilemmas and can't escape its clutches. It traps them like a mouse chasing cheese and for them, it's the end of a possibly distinguished career. Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately you occasionally find men and women for that part disgracing labor, meaning tarnishing their badges and departments in which they serve. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

To be proud of knowledge is to be blind with light. To know is not less than to feel. It is better to ask some questions than to know all the answers. Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams. The sunlight we now feel and see is your soul, Officer Cook, making each of our days seem a little brighter. Cheering us up from all the darkness, doom and despair. Now let us hope as the sun shines, that justice is not blind and all the wonderful work you performed on our behalf, Officer Cook can be vigorously carried on. This is your living legacy that you left for us to complete. This was your goal, your mission and we cannot leave it simply undone. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

Knowledge is the knowing that we cannot know. Our knowledge is the amassed thought and experience of innumerable minds: our language, our religion, our opinions, our fancies we inherited. Well you certainly inherited plenty of good genes from your wonderful family, Officer Cook. The DNA certainly did not fall far from the tree. You were as honorable a gentleman as your loving father, Charles, may he rest in peace and that is why you too succeeded mightily in all your endeavors. You made everyone proud to know and love you. I admire you even though we never had a chance to meet one another or our families. I'll continue to honor your blessed memory by trying to assist others as you so faithfully did. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

The hope of all who suffer, the dread of all who wrong. Justice has nothing to do with expediency. Justice has nothing to do with any temporary standard whatever. It is rooted and grounded in the fundamental instincts of humanity. Those of us who suffer because of your tragic loss, Officer Cook are the ones who were very blessed indeed to have known you and the type of human being and police officer that you were. You were a very accountable officer who stood your ground to solidify the foundations of truth and justice. Those foundations are cemented forever. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. all officers are expected to always act in a civil and humane manner, there are no exceptions to this common sense rule.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

I also meant to say the night skies will always stay lit because of your wit and wisdom, that when they were combined were a powerful combination in helping to ward off evil. You probably got your wit and wisdom from your devoted and loving parents and sister, Nancy. Any modern community which establishes a tolerable justice is the beneficiary of the ironic triumph of the wisdom of common sense over the foolishness of its wise men. There was plenty of common sense in your department back then, Officer Cook. Chief Bowlin sure had one very special and outstanding officer in his ranks. You were one who never backed down from any challenge and sadly that day because of a lack of discipline from one young man, your family, comrades and friends have had to suffer the burden of losing you at such a young age with so much more to offer this world. They have tried to carry on with honor and distinction because this is what you would have wanted them to do and to perform their duties in a just and righteous fashion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. your work in this world has since helped revitalize a loyal and forgiving community.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

I meant to say in this last reflection, Officer Cook, because of the way you served the citizens with pride, when can celebrate our accomplishments with pride. Generosity is the flower of justice. injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. man is unjust, but God is just and finally justice triumphs. A congenial and kind person were you, Officer cook, my neighbor, friend and hero and the fragrance of your labors are you now forever able to enjoy. you stamped out evil and laid the framework for all future officers to continue your foundation of pursuing justice and equality in the most respectful manner. Rest in peace,

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 24, 2013

Whoever fights, whoever falls, justice conquers evermore,...and he who battles on her side, God, though He were ten times slain, crowns him victor glorified, victor over death and pain. And you succeeded mightily, Officer Cook, and the pain over your death still is and will always be with your loving family and comrades who witnessed in awe of what you accomplished on their behalf. You allowed us the unique opportunity to be free and to celebrate our accomplishments with proud, because of the proud you displayed on duty. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

Much madness is divinest sense to a discerning eye; much sense the starkest madness. To the majority in this, as all, prevails. Assent and you are sane. Demur- you're straightway dangerous, and handled with a chain. I do not know how often you employed a chain on the job, Officer Cook, but we all do know you tried to make sense of the madness and evil around you. Calming people was your repertoire and never to be passive. You had keen eyes to know when to approach and when to ask for help. You had a great deal of common sense, that others today could sure use a large dose of. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

sanity is a madness put to good uses. A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use. Your maturity grew stronger as your years on the force increased, Officer Cook. Some police officers are loud mouths and belligerent, this was not your way of operating on the streets. There is a proper method of getting your point across and it was utilized most of your career and because of this, you were commended along with your partners for a job well done. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival. The true value of a human being is determined primarily by the measure and the sense in which he has attained to liberation from the self. The kind of person, gentleman you grew up to be, Officer Cook, is what made you uniquely qualified to be a police officer and to be able and willing to distance yourself from trouble. You knew when to stay calm and when to act, your eclectic personality enabled you to carry on with the task at hand when something out of the blue may have hindered others from being successful, but the honesty and true love you had for others will forever be your legacy. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

His brow is wet with honest sweat, he earns whatever he can and looks the whole world in the face, for he owes not any man. For all you accomplished in your life, Officer Cook, it is we who owe you a big debt of thanks for putting everything you had on the line. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero and watch over all those who sweat and toil as you did to preserve our dignities and freedoms. You always performed above and beyond the calls of duty.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

There is no death! What seems so is transition; this life of mortal breath is but a suburb of the life elysian, whose portal we call death. Officers who make the ultimate sacrifice as you made, Officer Cook, now have transitioned into a more important role, and that is to assist Our Creator in helping maintain law and order in this world. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013

The only secret people keep is immortality. My life closed twice before its close; it yet remains to see if immortality unveil a third event to me. I do think its so bad if officers think and ponder this. First of all, they are told of the risks before accepting the job and probably while they are in the police academy. This profession is a highly skilled one in which both an officer's mind and body must function well at the same time. The level of stress, the conditions, the different assignments all must be taken into account when you begin your career. But, you my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, knew very well what you expected out of your career and put forth the hard work and made the necessary sacrifices. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 23, 2013