Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Your friendship to me Officer Cook, would have been the greatest considering growing up in North Miami Beach, I did not for what ever reason have that many. I'm sorry we never got to meet each other, but I have revered you and the work and ideals that characterized your life and career. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. As a very approachable person, friendships came rather easy to you and you were the type of student in school who would have excelled in any endeavor. You choose police work, I suspect because of its challenges and in being out in the open among different persons and their ideals and backgrounds. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. Unifying rather than untying was your motto.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and the prudence never to practice either of them. We can do what we want so long a sit is proper and within the realms and bounds of the law. You were here, Officer Cook, to make sure we were obeying the laws you took an oath to enforce and you did so with clarity and without being obstructed. You were the go to officer who could be counted on when things got tough. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

What other liberty is there worth having, if we have not freedom and peace in our minds-if our inmost and most private man is but a sour and turbid pool? Officer Cook, you were the loyal and patient officer who delivered excellence daily to us and for this we must be forever grateful. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than freedom to stagnate, to live without dreams, to have no greater aim than a second car and another television set- and this world where half our fellow men have less than enough to eat. Officer Cook, you were a giver to modern society in all your efforts as an officer and when off duty will always be noted. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

If our freedom means ease alone, if it means shirking the hard disciplines of learning, if it means evading the rigors and rewards of creative activity, if it means more expenditure on advertising than education, if it means in the schools the steady cult of the trivial and the mediocre, if it means-worst of all-indifference, or even contempt for all athletic excellence, we may keep for a time the forms of free society, but its spirit will be dead. Your spirit and good nature, Officer Cook continues to abound because you did not shirk, evade or look for glory as the work you performed was only done with the best of intentions. You kept a pulse on the community you watched with reverence and passion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom-effective freedom-does not exist as a formula which can be written out by some and then used by others. The freedom that counts is simply what is in the minds and hearts of millions of free people. It is nothing more than the total of the feelings of people as they are expressed in the way we, the people, deal with our own families, neighbors and associates. Your message for freedom, Officer Cook was to bring parties together in a calm and fair manner, hashing out any differences to lead to a fair and unbiased conclusion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in their own way everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want...everywhere in the world. the fourth is freedom from fear...anywhere in the world. This is why we have men and women like yourself, Officer Cook, who are serving and risking your freedoms for us to have these same rights. You achieved success in your endeavors and now God has called you home to watch over your fellow sisters and brothers who pursue the same ideals in our midst as you so loyally did for six years with Dade County. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom needs all her poets: it is they who give her aspiration's wings and to the wiser law of music sway her wild imaginings. Freedom requires group participation from an entire community if it is going to function in a rational manner. That is why, Officer Cook, you were with us at the crossroads to make certain we would have our securities in place. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

And I honor the man who is willing to sink half his present repute for the freedom to think, and when he has thought, be his cause strong or weak, will risk the other half for the freedom to speak. You spoke when spoken to, Officer Cook and always addressed people in a calm and mild fashion and that was your way of serving with grace under fire. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

We cannot choose freedom established on a hierarchy of degrees of freedom, on a caste system of equality like military rank. We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. You always practiced what you and Karen preached, Officer cook and because of this reasoning you became the person, the officer who loved his work and served honorably and with great distinction. You gave your life to make men and women holy, let us die to make both men and women free, while God is marching on as does your giving spirit as it travels up above in God's fruited plains for eternity. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom all winged expands, nor perches in a narrow place; her broad van seeks unplanted lands; she loves a poor and virtuous race. Freedom does come at all costs, mostly because of our dedicated men and women in law enforcement who are not afraid to tackle situations most would not touch. Heroes such as you my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook, have gone beyond your positions in order to offer us the quality service we so desire. We always would desire more positive outcomes for our police officers and that cannot always occur, but nevertheless we keep their spirits and memories alive by living our lives as they so faithfully did. Rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and women and so it must be earned daily and refreshed-or else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. Our freedoms at the ultimate sacrifice of your life, Officer Cook, did come about because you were fearless in your daily pursuits of evil and in serving us to protect the good that exists in this community. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom. It is because of heroic men and women like you, Officer Cook, that we can be allowed to do as we please. Your effort to revitalize a community where racial unrest was starting to take shape was one of the things you most excelled besides the stellar work you did to maintain law and order and you'll not be forgotten for this. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

All men and women are born free and equal and have certain natural, essential and unalienable rights. And as a police officer and citizen, you too, Officer Cook had these same rights. These rights were taken from you on May 16, 1979 and because of your supreme sacrifice, citizens in Dade County can continue to live their dreams and aspirations as they see fit because of men and women so game as yourself. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

Oh, Lord, I want to be free, want to be free; rainbow round my shoulder, wings on my feet. God surely has wrapped Himself totally around your loving soul, Officer Cook. We never wanted you to lose your life, you very much still had a lot to offer this world and were a commanding presence in your department who will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 17, 2013

You use whatever force is necessary to achieve the purpose and i would like to feel that there wouldn't be a need for using armed force if we made it apparent that we have the will, if necessary, to do that. You did whatever you had to do that day, Officer Cook. The skill and judgment you exercised was well within the confines of the law to try and resolve this domestic dispute of which you excelled in handling. You tried being reasonable, unfortunately this young man had terrible problems that he thought could be served by doing harm to police officers like yourself, who must lookout for the public interest first and foremost. You saved your fellow officers, placing yourself in harm's way and those three civilians. Back then your two comrades who nearly lost their lives had bad experiences within the department that hopefully as the years have sadly passed so quickly will too be honored for their own bravery as they were the original officers dispatched to that awful scene. All officers who put themselves in harm's way do so for a very noble reason. One most of us may not fully comprehend and these are the true heroes and heroines to be saluted as you were for being dedicated to perform above and beyond the call of duty with honor and distinction. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

All over the bouquets of roses, O death, I cover you over with roses and lilies, but mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first, Copious I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes, with loaded arms I come, pouring for you, for you and the coffin of yourself, O death. Officer Cook, there were plenty of floral arrangements sent in for your visitation and burial service. But their was more than that and that was the emotional outpouring of the community you so dearly loved and served with professionalism the entire six years of your watch. You probably would have cried if you knew how many people, how many officers came from all over to pay their respects to you and your wonderfully loving and giving family. You were a true Godsend to the Metro-Dade Police family, Officer Cook and your tragic passing has left all of them still beside themselves wondering why did this happen to a truly humane, sensitive and passionate gentleman? Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

Off with your hat as the flag goes by! and let the heart have its say; you're man enough for a tear in your eye that you will not wipe away. All hats stayed on as your comrades saluted your flag draped casket as you, Officer Cook, were being taken into St. Mary's Cathedral one last time for your Inspector's Funeral where there was no dry eye only plenty of somberness and sorrow for a man who was a true hero indeed. And in the end as they played taps, the National Anthem and gave you a gun salute before laying you to rest and a final salute for your bravery and courage as the thirteenth Metro-Dade Police Officer to give their life in the line of duty. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death and afraid of each other. You were not afraid of truth, as you were raised to only speak the truth. You lived humbly growing up and faced those terrible circumstances with grace and humility right down until your last breath and that is why, Officer Cook you will be forever remembered. If something was on your mind, you told it like it is, you did not beat around the bush. Police officers all have this motto and that is to serve and protect. Not run and hide and be dishonest with the public trust. There is a reason why we are supposed to trust officers and speak to them in a civil fashion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

And I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning striding behind you or your shadow at evening rising to meet you; I will show you fear in a handful of dust. Police officers are showed a lot of different situations and the various circumstances on why they happen. When you went out on your first patrol, Officer Cook, I'm sure you had a certain amount of apprehension, but as you gained the knowledge and experience in how to properly deal with each dilemma, your confidence became more clearer and you were able to visualize how to handle problems in the correct and proper manner with dignity, integrity and compassion. Heroes like yourself really do exist and we must make and take the time to pause, salute and reflect back on your life and career. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

The outward wayward of life we see, the hidden springs we may not know....it is ours to separate the tangled skein of will and fate. God's will directs officer each day and God's judgment rests in how every officer performs his or her duties. You faithfully performed your duties, Officer Cook and now, God is leading you on another important mission: to help Him protect those officers who expose their lives to evil. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 16, 2013

The bitterest tragic element in life from an intellectual source is the belief in a brute fate or destiny, which we may be partial, but fate is not. All officers we hope live by their faiths and are honorable men and women such as yourself, Officer Cook, to live by morals and a code of ethics, to give up your existence to make us all feel safer. Simply put, they don't make officers such as yourself who do what needs to be done. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero. I meant to say my mother required surgery and thank God recovered and I also meant to use the words you and will in a statement that you and your fellow Metro-Dade Officers will always be relevant and are to be saluted for serving your community with honor and dedication.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 14, 2013

The security and elevation of the family and of family life are the prime objects of civilization and the ultimate ends of all industry. Your family, Officer Cook and Karen, were always number one in your life. They knew your fondness and the passion which you brought to your position when you left each day never knowing what might, God forbid happen. They knew how sincere police work was to you and the connections you made from your department. Families always wonder and pray for their loved ones when they go to work. A short story, my neighbor, friend and hero, Officer Cook. My family lived in Cambria Heights, New York, where my father, Owen Charles Davis, he should rest in peace was a police officer. I was seven months old and there was an accident in my home in which my mother Bernice, was burned. Luckily, workers were in the home and she was hospitalized for eight weeks. Nothing happened to my dad on duty, as I was staying with my Aunt Lilly, she too should rest in peace, who took care of me. She required surgery. God is always watching us and He too watches over you as you rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 13, 2013

If you will observe, it doesn't take a man of giant mold to make a giant shadow on the wall; and he who in our daily sight seems but a figure mean and small, outlined in fame's illusive light, may stalk, a silhouette sublime, across the canvas of his time. It sounds like one terrific officer whose name was associated with honor and proper respect due his position. You were, Officer Cook, the thinking man's officer. You always be fondly saluted for your gallantry. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 13, 2013

Sleep on, O brave-hearted, O wise man that kindled the flame-to live in mankind is far more than to live in a name. You name with always be relevant for forevermore, Officer Cook. They made shirts with the names of your forty-one other comrades who died for peace and unity in Dade County. Your intellect, your inspiration will always serve as our motivation to do the job correctly and keep a smile on your face with compassion. Rest in peace my neighbor, friend and hero.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 13, 2013