The hero cop who took down Oregon gunman: One of two officers praised for stopping campus rampage identified as 49-year-old small-town detective    

  • A friend identified heroin Roseburg, Oregon, cop as Sgt Joe Kaney 
  • Kaney's wife, Danya, called her detective husband 'a hero' 
  • Kaney and another officer rushed into Umpqua Community College Thursday and exchanged fire with Chris Harper-Mercer 
  • Harper-Mercer, 26, was shot dead by the officers after gunning down nine and injuring at least seven others 
  • Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin praised the cops for their heroic, life-saving actions in a press conference 
  • Sgt Kaney heads the Criminal Investigations Division and wrote the department's body camera policy   

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 10:55 EST, 2 October 2015 | Updated: 10:55 EST, 2 October 2015

As bullets were flying and terrified students were cowering inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College Thursday morning, two heroic police officers rushed into the building and confronted the heavily armed gunman.

According to later reports, the Roseburg Police Department cops engaged 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer and shot him dead during a gunfire exchange.

During an afternoon press conference, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin praised the officers for their act of courage, which likely saved dozens of lives.

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Public recognition: Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin praised two Roseburg, Oregon, cops for taking down the college shooter. It is believed one of the officers was Sgt Joe Kaney 

Public recognition: Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin praised two Roseburg, Oregon, cops for taking down the college shooter. It is believed one of the officers was Sgt Joe Kaney 

In the line of fire: Kaney and another officer (not pictured) responded to Umpqua Community College Thursday within minutes of the beginning of the rampage and engaged the gunman 

In the line of fire: Kaney and another officer (not pictured) responded to Umpqua Community College Thursday within minutes of the beginning of the rampage and engaged the gunman 

Villain: Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, barged into Snyder Hall, killed nine people and wounded seven others before the officers were able to neutralize him 

Villain: Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, barged into Snyder Hall, killed nine people and wounded seven others before the officers were able to neutralize him 

While officials have not publicly named the fearless law enforcement agents who took out the shooter, a family friend revealed to the New York Daily News that one of them was Sgt Joe Kaney.

Kaney, 49, has declined to speak about his role in the dramatic events on the college campus Thursday, but his wife, Dayna, could not conceal her pride when asked by the paper about her husband’s involvement.

'Well, of course he's a hero,' Mr Kaney told the Daily News.

Mrs Kaney, a nurse, said she was happy her husband came home safe after responding to the shooting.

Harper-Mercer shot dead at least nine people and wounded seven others when he barged into Snyder Hall armed with three pistols and a rifle and opened fire at around 10.40am Thursday.

According to survivors, Harper-Mercer shot a teacher from a point-blank range, then forced students to lie on the floor and then asked them to stand up one by one.

Proud wife: Dayna Kaney, a nurse, called her husband, Joe Kaney, a 'hero' for his brave actions 

Proud wife: Dayna Kaney, a nurse, called her husband, Joe Kaney, a 'hero' for his brave actions 

Chaotic scene: A police radio recording captured one of the breathless officers saying they were exchanging shots with Mercer, before he radioed back later to say: 'Suspect down'

Chaotic scene: A police radio recording captured one of the breathless officers saying they were exchanging shots with Mercer, before he radioed back later to say: 'Suspect down'

Community members are seen consoling one another after the Roseburg shooting 

Community members are seen consoling one another after the Roseburg shooting 

He then asked the victims to state their religion before shooting them.

Within minutes, two responding officers, one of them believed to be Sgt Kaney, ran into the science building and confronted the shooter.

A police radio recording captured one of the breathless officers saying they were exchanging shots with Mercer, before he radioed back later to say: 'Suspect down.'

Having neutralized the threat, the cops turned their attention to the casualties, summoning multiple ambulances and medical units to the scene.

'We know that we have at least two heroic officers who exchanged gunfire with the suspect,' Sheriff Hanlin later told reporters.

He refused to reveal the officers' identities, but said they would be issued by another department at a later date.

In mourning: A young woman reacts during a vigil in Roseburg, Oregon on October 1

In mourning: A young woman reacts during a vigil in Roseburg, Oregon on October 1

Amanda Calver, 30, lays a candle during a vigil in Roseburg, Oregon late on October 1

Amanda Calver, 30, lays a candle during a vigil in Roseburg, Oregon late on October 1

Speaking to the Daily News, a friend of Sgt Kaney's said he and wife Dayna spent Thursday night watching a movie together to help get his mind off the tragic events of that morning.

According to the City of Roseburg website, Kaney heads the local police department’s Criminal investigation Division.

An article in the News-Review from 2014 mentioned that the detective wrote the department's body camera policy. 

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