IFPD officer makes connections spanning the globe at FBI training

IDAHO FALLS — “With grateful appreciation, we return Mohammad to you,” said a lieutenant in the Idaho Falls Police Department in a letter to the Egyptian people.

IFPD Lt. Steven Poulter recently graduated from the FBI National Academy. During his 10 weeks at the academy, Poulter was surrounded by police from around the country and around the world. During the training he not only learned about the world, but he also made connections across the globe.

The FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia hosted law enforcement officers from 48 states, Washington DC, 22 international countries, five military organizations and six federal civilian organizations.

“Basically, you’re shoulder to shoulder with these guys,” Poulter told EastIdahoNews.com. “You live, eat, sleep, PT (physically train), and (attend) class with these guys — everything, 24/7.”

During his training at the academy, Poulter met Lt. Colonel Mohammad Emira (can also be spelled Amera or Emera) of Egypt.

“He thought that Americans were going to be rough people who were aggressive and mean,” Poulter said. “He told me that the Americans were — that everyone went out of their way to help him, that he found them very genuine and loving and caring people. They were not the people he had imagined in his mind.”

Poulter said he learned from people like Emira that others from around the world are just like everyone else.

“They love their families, they love their country and (are) extremely patriotic,” he said. “Especially Mohammad — he demonstrated his faith as well as his love for family country and work ethic.”

Emira told Poulter one of his biggest concerns was that the students at the academy wouldn’t be able to understand the people of Egypt.

So Poulter decided to write a letter to Emira’s police superiors to tell them about his experiences with the Egyptian officer.

“I wrote this to them, ‘we were able to see the hearts and minds, the strong faith, patriotism, love of family and work ethic of all the Egyptian people because of Mohammad’s example, his words and his personal nature,” Poulter said.”

In the letter, Poulter said he spent a great deal of time with Emira discussing their different personal lives and cultures.

“I witnessed Mohammad give many lessons, speeches and share experiences in our counterterrorism course and leadership course,” Poulter said in the letter. “Mohammad spoke from the heart with great conviction and power. All the men listened attentively each time as he spoke.”

Poulter said the experiences at the academy were not just about the training.

“It is about the relationships we develop here as brothers, and the absolutely life-changing experience that one could have had as I did,” he said in the letter. “The experience is beyond the description of words. It was the improvement of self in body, mind and spirit.”

The sentiment was echoed by Emira in a speech he gave at the end of the 10 weeks.

“We are not here because we are police officers, we are here because we are your friends,” Emira said.

Poulter said in his letter to the Egyptian police that Emira was loved and popular with students at the academy. Poulter said he is a great leader.

“Mohammad helped me to remember that there is not an Egyptian named Mohammad Emira or an American named Steven Poulter,” Poulter said in the letter. “There are only two men from one God who are brothers here on this earth. With grateful appreciation, we return Mohammad to you.”