Blake Babin led a stellar career as a Bethel Park police officer, rising to lieutenant over more than three decades.

Friends and former colleagues said he acted as a mentor to others, organized community programs, participated in an annual food drive and was compassionate to those he served.

But Babin, 60, also traveled to Colombia where he socialized with prostitutes at nightclubs in the South American country, federal investigators said.

Befriending one, a Venezuelan who investigators said was likely younger than 18, Babin cultivated a romantic relationship and then helped bring her illegally into the U.S. two years ago.

Texts between the two showed that Babin brought her home to Bethel Park “because he ‘loved her’ and needed her help because he hates ‘to keep a house by (him)self.’ He shared that he thought she was beautiful, that her body was ‘perfect,’ and that he liked that she enjoyed sex,” the prosecution wrote in its sentencing brief.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville ordered Babin, who previously pleaded guilty to one count of transporting an illegal alien, to serve three years probation, 50 hours of community service and pay a $2,000 fine.

Sentencing guidelines called for a range of punishments from probation to up to six months behind bars.

Babin, who retired after charges were filed, was indicted by a federal grand jury in May after investigators said he gave money to the woman in the last quarter of 2022.

The money was to pay for her illegal entry into the U.S. from Mexico, the government said.

According to prosecutors, the woman twice failed to get into the U.S. but managed to cross the border near El Paso, Texas, on her third try. Babin was waiting to take her to Phoenix and then Pittsburgh, prosecutors said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Bloch said on Wednesday that it is rare for a police officer to appear as a defendant in court. She also noted that Babin has had more than one Venezuelan woman living with him.

“We do hold police officers, as we should, to a higher standard, and Mr. Babin should be held to a higher standard,” she said. “This was not a one-time event.”

Currently, according to sentencing documents, a different Venezuelan woman, who is 23, her mother and her child are living with Babin.

Bloch noted that they entered the country legally while the woman was pregnant. Bloch also said Babin initially applied to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the 23-year-old’s entry, claiming she was his fiancee.

Defense attorney Charles Porter said his client was a law-abiding man who led a life of service.

“This is a man who made a mistake and admitted it,” Porter said. “The mistake cost him significantly. It cost him his career. It cost him his status. He’s now a felon.”

Babin spoke to the court briefly.

“I take full responsibility for the actions that brought me here today,” he said. “Actions have consequences.”

Several of Babin’s friends and colleagues submitted letters to the court on his behalf.

Bethel Park Public Works Director Susan Dolinar, who attended the sentencing, wrote in her letter that she had been friends with Babin for more than 33 years. She called him selfless, caring and dedicated.

Dolinar described instances in which Babin, on multiple occasions, ran into burning homes to save the people inside.

He once found a woman sleeping in her car on Christmas Eve. He paid for her to stay at a local hotel and gave her money for food, Dolinar said.

Babin was well-respected in the Bethel Park Police Department, she wrote.

“I have seen it firsthand as Blake has always put principle over promotions, or his ‘career,’ earning him a reputation for integrity and honesty.”

Several people also referenced work Babin did to to raise money to help a young boy in Colombia with severely crossed eyes afford surgery. Babin met the boy and his family in his travels to Colombia, they wrote.

“Blake not only organized the medical care, but he contributed financially as well,” wrote James “Tim” Kirsch, a retired Bethel Park police officer.

“When I asked him about his deep involvement with this family and their village, he explained that he had no one else in his life and intended to give them everything he had to offer, hoping to provide them with a brighter future,” wrote Crescent police Chief Frank Marks, who previously worked with Babin in Bethel Park.

After the hearing, Porter called what happened to Babin sad: “He terminated a very good and productive law enforcement career in his endeavor to help someone, and, unfortunately, it wasn’t consistent with the law.”

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