Former Aurora officer Priebe receives kidney from slain Independence officer

On June 9, 2020, Mark Priebe, an officer with Springfield Police Department, was run over while confronting a man who allegedly vandalized the station; he was left paralyzed. Thirteen months later, on July 8, Priebe found himself facing a new challenge. According to a Facebook post by Priebe’s wife, Heather, he was told that he would need a new kidney and have to start dialysis.
As fate would have it, Priebe now has a new kidney which was donated to him by police officer Blaize Madrid-Evans, who was tragically killed in the line of duty.

Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans

Priebe, who formerly served on the Aurora Police Department for three years, received his new kidney from Blaize Madrid-Evans, an officer with the Independence, Mo., Police Department. According to a posting on the Springfield Police Department’s Facebook page, Madrid-Evans and his field-training officer were responding to a call for service on Wednesday, Sept. 15, when he was shot and critically wounded by Cody Harrison, a wanted suspect; he later died from his injuries. The FTO returned fire, killing Harrison. At 22, Madrid-Evans had only graduated from the police academy two months earlier. According to various news sources, he was also engaged to be married.

Madrid-Evans a match for Priebe
Madrid-Evans was an organ donor, and as it turned out, he was a match for Priebe. Friday, Sept. 17, the Priebes were informed that the officer’s kidney was a match for Mark; the next day, he underwent surgery in St. Louis to place the kidney. The surgery was a success.
Priebe expressed tremendous gratitude for the donation from the fellow police officer.
“I am forever grateful to Officer Madrid-Evans and his family for providing this direct donation,” he was quoted as saying. “I truly believe God had his hand in this, and it's been difficult to comprehend why I am allowed to continue to live, and this young, brand-new officer had to pay the ultimate sacrifice. I hope that I can honor him and his family by the way I live my life."

Donations being taken to support Madrid-Evans family
Officer Madrid-Evans was laid to rest on Friday, Sept. 24; Gov. Mike Parson issued a proclamation on Thursday, Sept. 23, ordering that all United States and State of Missouri flags at government buildings in Jackson County be flown at half-mast in the officer’s honor.
The Independence Police Foundation is currently raising $10,000 to help Madrid-Evans family with expenses. Donations can be made online at www.ipdfoundation.org/support.