A South Carolina law enforcement dive team is mourning the loss of one of its members after a deputy died during an underwater training exercise at Lake Murray.
Master Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department died on Thursday, July 30, while taking part in a scheduled underwater training session with the department’s dive team. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and officials have not released a cause of death.
The investigation is being led by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.
In a statement released by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Jay Koon paid tribute to Olson’s service and dedication.
“Our hearts are broken by the loss of a valuable member of the Sheriff’s Department. Jillian exemplified commitment and service. She faithfully carried out her duties and selflessly worked to make those around her better.”
Olson joined the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department in 2021, initially serving as a patrol deputy before transferring to the Warrant Division. She was promoted to Master Deputy in 2025 and became a member of the department’s dive team in 2024.
She had recently been recognised by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation as the Outstanding Judicial Services Deputy of the Year after developing training guides and operational resources that improved workflow and deputy training. She had also received the department’s Tactical Operations Support Award in 2023 and was due to receive her five-year Honorable Service Award next month.
Originally from Illinois, Olson graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration in 2019 before completing a master’s degree in Student Personnel Services in 2021.
Sheriff Koon added that Olson would be remembered not only for her professional achievements but also for her willingness to serve beyond what was expected.
“Jillian’s dedication to her community and department is well-documented with awards and recognitions. 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.”
Dive teams perform a wide range of specialist public safety roles, including evidence recovery, search and rescue, victim recovery and underwater inspections. Training exercises are routinely conducted to maintain the high level of proficiency required for these demanding operations.
No further details about the incident have been released while investigators continue to determine exactly what happened during the training exercise.
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