On Monday, October 2, 2023, the GBI arrested former Buchanan Police Department Officer Matthew Hearne, age 39, of Cedartown, GA, for one count of Harassing Communications, one count of Identity Fraud, one count of Violation of Public Oath, and one count of Impersonating a Police Officer.
On September 25, 2023, the GBI received a request from the Polk County Police Department to conduct a Public Officials Investigation. The investigation was connected to allegations that Hearne was portraying himself as the Buchanan Chief of Police and sending harassing communications to his ex-wife.
