Jul 28, 2015 By Cara Host 2 min read

Two of Bethel Park’s longest-serving police officers will help lead a department that will welcome several newcomers in the next few months.

Tim Kirsch and Blake Babin, two sergeants who have both been with the department for more than 20 years, were sworn in as lieutenants during the council committee meeting July 27.

Retirements have prompted a reshuffling in the 33-member police force. The municipality hired a new police chief earlier this year and it is slated to hire about four new police officers in the next few months.

“There have been a lot of changes in the department in the last six months,” said Council President Tim Moury. The promotions of Kirsch and Babin to lieutenant “is great for the department and great for the community.”

In their new positions, Kirsch will be the direct supervisor to patrol officers in his new role, while Babin will oversee training, equipment purchases and supervising radio dispatchers.

Kirsch, a U.S. Air Force veteran, joined Bethel Park Police in 1992. His holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia Southern University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Kirsch thanked council, his fellow officers and police Chief Timothy O’Connor for having faith in his ability to lead.

“I will work long and hard to live up to the standards of this position,” he said.

Babin has been with the force since 1990. He has a bachelor’s degree from Robert Morris University and he completed a course on police administration from Penn State University.

Babin said the department is a team and he is excited to help lead it.

“To say I’m enthused to be part of Chief O’Connor’s management team is an understatement,” he said. “There is no other team I would rather be part of than this one.”