On Friday morning a crowd gathered at the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office for a ceremony to officially dedicate their new training center to the late Kristen Hearne. Additionally, the new “Wall of Honor” mural for the Kirsten Hearne Training Center was also unveiled as part of this year’s National Faith and Blue Weekend.

Detective Kristen Hearne, a former resident of Chattooga County, was shot and killed while responding to reports of a stolen vehicle on September 29, 2017. She and her partner were ambushed upon arrival. The other officer involved was also wounded and survived.

Detective Hearne was twenty-nine-years-old and served with the Polk County Police Department for five years. She left behind her husband and young son, along with other family members.

At the ceremony naming the Floyd County Law Enforcement Training Center, master of ceremonies Doug Walker said, “She worked all of her cases diligently, provided the DA’s office with good prosecutable cases and was always willing to help with any situation, even though she was a detective. She would often commit to help cover off days on short patrol shifts. She was also one who backed up patrol officers when they received a dangerous call or would show up just to help on any or all calls, which is exactly what she was doing on the day her life was taken from her.”

The ceremony also recognized those included on the Wall of Honor inside the new training center, which includes pictures of former Sheriffs Tim Burkhalter and Joe Adams, Chaplain David Thornton, Sgt. Catherine Greene and Lt. Cecil Stewart.