11/04/2026
Message from the Chief
Excellence in Action - Investigator Joshua Day
Recently, Chief Johnny Liendo of the Cottonwood Shores Police Department reached out to thank our department for the support we provided during a challenging investigation. He especially commended Investigator Joshua Day for his exceptional efforts.
Chief Liendo spoke highly of Joshua's professionalism, his attention to detail, and drive to go the extra mile. Joshua’s work uncovered new evidence and led to additional charges.
After hearing his comments and reviewing the work involved, I felt it was important to recognize Joshua's efforts.
I also wanted to share some of the circumstances surrounding this investigation because they provide an excellent example of the work our investigators do, much of which the public never sees.
In October, the Texas Rangers were assisting the Cottonwood Shores Police Department with an investigation involving a series of burglaries that had occurred over several months.
During that investigation, a Texas Ranger contacted Investigator Day and requested assistance with a forensic examination of a cellular telephone belonging to a person of interest.
Joshua stepped up and handled the on-site phone data extraction. During his initial examination of the phone's data, Joshua discovered evidence of suspected child s*xual abuse material. What began as an investigation into property crimes had now uncovered evidence of potentially more serious criminal activity.
Recognizing the seriousness of this discovery, Joshua prepared and obtained an additional search warrant authorizing a more comprehensive forensic examination of the device.
As he continued reviewing the digital evidence, he discovered additional video recordings depicting a woman in private areas of her home where anyone would reasonably expect privacy, apparently recorded without her knowledge or consent.
Rather than simply documenting the discovery and passing the information along, Joshua continued investigating.
He reviewed multiple reports from the Cottonwood Shores Police Department to determine whether the woman was connected to any of the original burglary cases. When he determined that she was not among the known complainants, he began looking deeper into the digital evidence.
Through his forensic examination, Joshua discovered embedded GPS location information within the video files. That information provided an important investigative lead.
Working in coordination with the Burnet County District Attorney's Office, the Cottonwood Shores Police Department, the Texas Rangers, and our command staff, Joshua continued pursuing that lead until he was able to positively identify and locate the woman.
He subsequently interviewed her and confirmed that she did not know the suspect and was unaware that the recordings had been made.
Think about the significance of that.
An investigator who was originally asked to assist another agency with a phone extraction uncovered evidence of additional serious criminal offenses and identified a previously unknown victim.
And the investigation did not stop there.
Joshua kept driving the case, securing more search warrants for the suspect’s home and electronic devices. He worked side by side with Captain Jeremy Stewart, Investigator Sergeant Steve Vollmar, and Investigator Brendan Bloom as they executed those warrants and pushed the investigation forward.
Ultimately, the investigation resulted in additional criminal charges involving possession of child s*xual abuse material, alleged s*x offender registration violations, and invasive visual recording.
These are serious allegations involving offenses that might otherwise have remained undiscovered.
What stands out to me most about Josh's work is that the original investigation was not ours.
He was asked to assist another agency with a specific technical task. He could have completed the extraction, provided the information, and returned to his normal responsibilities.
Instead, he recognized the significance of the evidence, took ownership of the additional investigative responsibilities, coordinated with the appropriate authorities, and committed the time and effort necessary to follow the evidence wherever it led.
That is the kind of initiative, professionalism, and dedication I want to recognize.
For a department our size, having an investigator with Joshua's digital forensic knowledge and capabilities is a tremendous asset. His specialized training and experience allow our department to assist other law enforcement agencies with complex investigations requiring technical expertise.
But what stands out most is Joshua’s willingness to take initiative and see things through, no matter what.
I also want to recognize Captain Jeremy Stewart, Investigator Sergeant Steve Vollmar, and Investigator Brendan Bloom for their involvement. Their willingness to step in, coordinate resources, and support the ex*****on of additional search warrants reflects the teamwork necessary to successfully investigate complex criminal cases.
As I have shared in previous messages, the Burnet Police Department operates under three core values: COMMUNITY, INTEGRITY, and COURAGE.
I find it particularly fitting to recognize those values in this case because Joshua was one of the employees who served on the committee responsible for developing and adopting them.
COMMUNITY means serving others, building relationships, and working together to improve public safety. Our commitment to public safety does not end at the Burnet city limits. When neighboring agencies need assistance, we understand the importance of supporting one another.
INTEGRITY means doing what is right, remaining accountable, and approaching our responsibilities with honesty, fairness, and professionalism. It means taking the time to conduct thorough investigations and allowing the evidence to guide our decisions.
COURAGE means making sound decisions, accepting responsibility, doing what is right, and remaining prepared to meet every challenge. Sometimes courage involves confronting difficult and disturbing evidence while remaining focused on protecting victims and pursuing justice.
Joshua played a part in developing these values and showed what they look like in action throughout this investigation.
Our department's vision is to enhance public safety and quality of life through professional, proactive, and compassionate policing while building strong partnerships with our community.
This case is a true example of our commitment in action.
I also want to thank Chief Liendo, the Cottonwood Shores Police Department, the Texas Rangers, and the Burnet County District Attorney's Office for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this investigation. Strong working relationships between law enforcement agencies benefit every community we serve.
Joshua, I want to personally thank you for your outstanding work, your initiative, and your dedication to this profession.
Your efforts helped uncover additional alleged criminal activity, identify a victim who might otherwise have remained unknown to investigators, and develop evidence supporting additional criminal charges.
Your work reflects positively on yourself, your fellow employees, and the entire Burnet Police Department, and I am proud to have you as part of our team.
