Who Is Keith Buchanan? Alabama Police Chief Investigates Officer Who Allegedly Staged Shooting to Present 'False Image of Heroism'

A police officer in Alabama is under investigation after he allegedly staged a shoot-out to make it appear as if he was under attack. Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith accused Officer Keith Buchanan of trying to present a "false image of heroism" after he made a distress call on July 21 to say that he was being shot at following a traffic stop on F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive near Cedar Street.

During the call, shots could repeatedly be heard in the background. For around 30 minutes, dispatchers were unable to communicate with Buchanan on his radio. When backup later arrived, they found an abandoned police car with a bullet hole through the front window.

Buchanan was later found on the ground holding his gun and moaning from his injuries. In a press conference, Smith said that the department spent weeks collecting evidence in order to find whoever was responsible for firing at the officer, WBMA reported.

"I wish I were here today to tell you about another great story of valor and heroism. One of honor; but unfortunately I'm not. Instead I'm here to talk about stolen valor, stolen honor, and an attempt to stage a shooting," Smith said.

"We will always be in relentless pursuit of our suspects. Unfortunately, this time, it's one of our own. Our investigation has concluded that this entire event has been a hoax. The radio call, the shots fired, the help call, lying injured on the tracks, the damage to the police car—all a hoax.

"We found nothing to support the officer's accounts of this incident. And I can't say it enough: we will always be in relentless pursuit of our suspects, even when one of those suspects is one of our own," Smith said.

Smith said Buchanan has since been removed from all police duties and forced to hand over his badge and weapon. He said the department is seeking criminal charges against Buchanan, including criminal mischief, false reporting and discharging a firearm in city limits.

Smith noted the incident occurred in a year where officers have been killed or injured in the line of duty in Alabama, including Officer Cullen Stafford who is still in hospital after being shot at several times while on duty on July 17.

"This officer did a lot on that night to present a false image of heroism," Smith said. "He endangered the lives of the community by discharging his firearm, and also other officers, as they responded from all over the city to be at his side and do everything that they can to help."

Smith said investigators have so far been unable to come up with a possible motive for staging the hoax.

Buchanan graduated from the police academy in July 2012 and was assigned to the north precinct. According to AL.com, Buchanan has faced several other discipline issues in the past, including filing a false report for a public intoxication arrest in 2016.

He also failed to notify his supervisor of a stolen gun which he took from a suspect and kept for several months before falsifying a report claiming he found the weapon in November 2014, as well as admitting he forgot to sign a warrant on a man he arrested for disorderly conduct in 2014.

The Birmingham Police union condemned the actions of the officer in the wake of the press conference.

"From a fraternal order of police standpoint, whenever an officer's integrity is called into question, it sets the organization back and causes issues with us building public trust or keeping the public's trust," said Lieutenant Richard Haluska, with the Birmingham FOP Lodge #1, reports WBRC.