Officer attracts attention as he rides for Concerns of Police Survivors

AMES, Ia. — Though other RAGBRAI cyclists rode into Ames Tuesday wearing wacky jerseys and helmet ornaments, Officer Anthony Greiter of Iowa State University police wore his full uniform.

Greiter is riding the full week of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa with the Iowa COPS Team.

The group is representing the the not-for-profit Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors. It’s an organization that helps families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The not-for-profit assists surviving family members in making funeral arrangements, securing counseling and line of duty benefits and funds a trip to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nearly 15 team members — made up of current and former law enforcement officials and dispatchers from across the Midwest — also use the ride as a way to remember fallen officers.

Greiter has two flags tied to his bike. One is for former Story County Sheriff Charles McGriff, who died of gunshot wounds in 1941. The other flag honors former Ames Police Sgt. Howard Snider, who died in 2012 while trying to help his daughter in a water accident.

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Another rider is honoring Keokuk County deputy Eric Stein, who was shot to death in April 2011 in a standoff.

While he was riding in uniform, Greiter said other cyclists often asked about the organization.

“Just the flags alone bring some attention,” he said. “Being in uniform today has multiplied that exponentially. There’s a lot of ‘where are you from,’ ‘what do you do,’ ‘thanks for your service.'”

“We’re happy to be out here and raise awareness and keep these officers remembered,” Greiter said.

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