Sheriff: Lexington County deputy dies in training dive

Authorities say a Lexington County sheriff’s deputy has drowned in Lake Murray during an underwater dive team training session.

Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, died while training with fellow members of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department dive team on Thursday, July 30, Sheriff Jay Koon said in a news release.

“Our hearts are broken by the loss of a valuable member of the sheriff’s department,” Koon said. “Jillian exemplified commitment and service. She faithfully carried out her duties and selflessly worked to make those around her better.”

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating Olson’s death with assistance from the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, Capt. Adam Myrick said in the release issued Friday, July 31. Myrick said the Lexington County Coroner's Office is conducting its own investigation to determine Olson's cause and manner of death.

A Lexington resident, Olson has been a member of the LCSD dive team since 2024. She joined the sheriff’s department in 2021, serving as a patrol deputy and later as a warrant deputy. She was promoted to master deputy in the sheriff’s department warrant division in 2025.

Koon said the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation named Olson the outstanding judicial services deputy of the year at its annual awards banquet last spring.

“The foundation recognized Jillian for showing exceptional initiative and leadership by, on her own time, developing reference guides and document templates for use by judicial services deputies,” the sheriff said. “The tools Jillian developed improved deputy training and operational workflow.”

 Olson received the sheriff’s department’s tactical operations support award in 2023. She was scheduled to receive the department’s five-year honorable service award in August.

A native of Illinois, Olson graduated from Western Illinois University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration, according to the sheriff’s department. She completed a master’s degree in student personnel services from the institution in 2021.

“Jillian’s dedication to her community and department is well-documented with awards and recognitions,” Koon said. “She’ll be most remembered for what she did with no fanfare. Her decision to join our dive team is just one example of her going above and beyond.”

The sheriff thanked the state and local officials tasked with investigating Olson’s death.

“I am grateful to DNR, SLED and our county coroner for the sensitive and respectful way they've handled everything,” Koon said. “I would also like to express my thanks to the countless public safety agencies that responded without hesitation from across the whole state to help us in our time of need.”