Sheriff Joe Arpaio should be in deep water over this, but somehow I think the right wing will find a way to ignore just how bad this is. Arpaio appears to have ignored proper procedures in investigating sex crimes against children, primarily because they were children of illegal aliens.

Both cases were among more than 400 sex-crimes reported to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office during a three-year period ending in 2007 — including dozens of alleged child molestations — that were inadequately investigated and in some instances were not worked at all, according to current and former police officers familiar with the cases.

In El Mirage alone, where Arpaio’s office was providing contract police services, officials discovered at least 32 reported child molestations — with victims as young as 2 years old — where the sheriff’s office failed to follow through, even though suspects were known in all but six cases.

Many of the victims, said a retired El Mirage police official who reviewed the files, were children of illegal immigrants.

The botched sex-crimes investigations have served as an embarrassment to a department whose sheriff is the self-described “America’s Toughest Sheriff” and a national hero to conservatives on the immigration issue.

Others in the sheriff’s office admit there were issues and problems, but are now trying to work those cases.

Of course, the delayed investigation means a far tougher time bringing those involved in these heinous crimes to justice, and leaves the community at risk of sexual predators.

Yeah, that’s being tough on crime alright.