Image: Ridge Meadows RCMP / Provided / Sgt. Daniel Rettenbacher has recently been recognized for his deployment to Ukraine as part of an international RCMP program.

By Alyssa Conti

SERGEANT RECOGNIZED

Ridge Meadows RCMP officer returns from police deployment to Ukraine

Aug 9, 2025 | 9:01 AM

MAPLE RIDGE — The RCMP’s Ridge Meadows detachment is recognizing one of its own for International Peacekeepers’ Day after he’d been deployed abroad.

Sergeant Daniel Rettenbacher recently participated in Canada’s International Policing Program, where he joined other RCMP officers in mentoring Ukrainian police to help secure their country.

“I was initially deployed to Warsaw, Poland and would travel between the two countries making arrangements and meeting personnel to assesses training requirements,” said Sgt. Rettenbacher.

“As one of the few officers deployed with a use-of-force training background, most of my time over there was dedicated to training and course development.”

Source: Ridge Meadows RCMP / Provided

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Rettenbacher created a training standard modelled on the RCMP’s program, then eventually moved from directly training Ukrainian officers– to teaching other trainers.

“The ultimate goal is to establish a program that the Ukrainians can take over with next to no Canadian involvement,” he added. “By the end of my deployment, we had a very good course with a great pool of Ukrainian instructors.”

He has received a Special Service Medal and an Operational Service Medal as a result of his deployment.

More information on the policing program is available here.

July marked the 10th anniversary of the Canadian police mission in Ukraine.