Lexington County Deputy Dies During Dive Team Training on Lake Murray
LEXINGTON, S.C. — The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of Master Deputy Jillian Olson, who died Thursday during an underwater training exercise with the department’s dive team on Lake Murray.
Olson, 29, began her career with the Sheriff’s Department in 2021 as a patrol deputy before transferring to the Warrant Division after more than a year. She was promoted to master deputy in 2025 and joined the department’s dive team in 2024.
“Our hearts are broken by the loss of a valuable member of the Sheriff’s Department,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Jillian exemplified commitment and service. She faithfully carried out her duties and selflessly worked to make those around her better.”
Earlier this year, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation recognized Olson as its Outstanding Judicial Services Deputy of the Year during its annual awards banquet.
“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,” Koon said. “The tools Jillian developed improved deputy training and operational workflow.”
A Lexington resident originally from Illinois, Olson received the Sheriff’s Department’s Tactical Operations Support Award in 2023 and was scheduled to receive the department’s Five-Year Honorable Service Award next month.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration from Western Illinois University in 2019, followed by a master’s degree in student personnel services from the university 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 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation into Olson’s death, with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office is conducting a separate investigation to determine the cause and manner of her 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.”
