Kristen Hearne was an American police officer based in Polk County, Georgia. She was a detective of the Polk County Georgia Police Department. ^{[5] [4] [1] [8]}

Detective Hearne was a married mother of a 3-year-old son.

^{[5] [4] [8]}

Hearne was a veteran of the department for 5 years.

^{[5] [4] [8]}

On September 29, 2017, Detective Hearne was killed in an ambush by Seth Brandon Spangler and Samanda Ruth in Polk County, Georgia. ^{[5] [4]}Officer David Goodrich was called out to a suspicious vehicle along Santa Claus Road, where he found a Ford Escape that had been reported stolen out of Tennessee. ^{[5] [4] [8]}

Detective Hearne was called in as backup.

The officers were checking out the car when Seth Spangler, and Samanda Ruth, walked out of the nearby wood line and up to the officers.

^{[5] [4] [8]}

The officers began speaking with the duo when Samanda said Spangler pulled out a handgun and shot the officers. Officer Goodrich was shot in his bulletproof vest. Detective Hearne was taken to Polk Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 11:49 a.m. ^{[5] [4] [8]}