COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. — The City of Collierville is taking steps to raise awareness for police officers’ sacrifices.

Even before two Hattiesburg police officers were shot and killed over the weekend, the city had planned to participate in  National Police Week.

Mayor Stan Joyner issued a proclamation Monday, identifying May 10-16, 2015 as Police Week in the town of Collierville.

“We’re very proud of them and what our mayor’s going to do tonight is a gesture of expressing that to our police chief and the command staff that we have an outstanding police force,” said City Spokesperson Mark Heubuerger.

The Collierville Citizens Police Association believed the relationship between police and the community was generally very positive.

However, CCPA Chairperson Nicholas Burrows said the events in Hattiesburg prove there is always a need for more awareness and appreciation.

“You always hear about routine traffic stops. There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop. Every time an officer gets out of a car to walk up and say, ‘Hey, you have a tail light out,’ or, ‘You’re speeding,’ they don’t know what’s going to happen,” Burrows said.

Folks around Collierville told WREG they agreed.

Patrick O’Neil said he has cousins who wear the badge.

“Leaving each day, they’re leaving a family behind and their family is assuming just like they are that they’re going to come back home safe,” O’Neil said.

By the time these calendar dates roll around next year, CCPA said it hopes to have donated blue lights to hand out around town.

That way, homes and businesses can show support and keep the conversation going.

“More communication and interaction between, you know, to prevent things from getting to that point,” O’Neil said.

The proclamation noted that nationwide, nearly 60,000 assaults against law enforcement officers are reported each year.

It also said that since the first recorded death in 1791, more than 20,000 officers in the U.S. have made the ultimate sacrifice.

In honor of Police Week, CCPA hosted a “Dine to Donate” event at Perkins in Collierville Monday evening.

The event raised money for CCPA.

A “Spirit Night” was also scheduled for Thursday evening at Chick-fil-A in Collierville.