[Original reporting below; update appended August 10, 2026]
A Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputy died during an underwater training exercise on Lake Murray, South Carolina, the department confirmed.
Master Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, lost her life while participating in a dive team training session on the lake on July 30, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD). Sheriff Jay Koon described her as a dedicated member of the department whose commitment to service left a lasting impact on colleagues and the community.
Olson, originally from Illinois, joined LCSD in 2021. She was promoted to master deputy within the warrants division in 2025 and had served on the department’s dive team since 2024, recently completing her 100th dive. She had been named the department’s judicial services deputy of the year and was approaching her fifth anniversary with LCSD.
Cause of death confirmed as drowning
The Lexington County Coroner’s Office released preliminary autopsy results on August 7, performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, showing Olson died of freshwater drowning. Officials said the specific circumstances that led to the drowning, including any equipment, medical, or procedural factors, remain under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). No further findings had been released at the time of publication.
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Funeral and tributes
Olson’s funeral was held August 5 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, with burial following at St. Michael Lutheran Church cemetery in Columbia. Her father, Jim Olson, spoke at the service about how his daughter made people feel protected, valued, and loved, and recalled her love of the lake, paddleboarding, kayaking, and time on the water.
Governor Henry McMaster ordered flags across South Carolina lowered to half-staff on the day of the funeral. Sheriff Koon announced that Olson’s call sign, 122, will be retired in her honor.
Public safety dive teams routinely train in open water to maintain readiness for search, rescue, and recovery operations, often in conditions involving limited visibility, cold water, and physical exertion under stress. Fatalities during public safety dive training, while uncommon, typically prompt review of training protocols, supervision standards, and equipment checks within agencies that operate dive teams.
Authorities have not indicated whether Olson’s death will prompt a review of LCSD’s dive team procedures. This remains a developing story, and further updates will follow as SCDNR and SLED complete their investigation.
Diventures Magazine extends its condolences to Master Deputy Olson’s family, colleagues, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
A Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputy died Thursday night during an underwater training exercise on Lake Murray, South Carolina, the department confirmed.
Master Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, lost her life while participating in a dive team training session on the lake, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD). Sheriff Jay Koon described her as a dedicated member of the department whose commitment to service left a lasting impact on colleagues and the community.
Olson, originally from Illinois, joined LCSD in 2021. She was promoted to master deputy within the warrants division in 2025 and had served on the department’s dive team since 2024. She had recently been named the department’s judicial services deputy of the year and was approaching her fifth anniversary with LCSD this coming August.
Sheriff Koon said Olson’s decision to join the dive team reflected the quiet dedication that defined her career, noting that much of her most meaningful work went unrecognized publicly.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is leading the investigation into the circumstances of Olson’s death, with support from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The Lexington County Coroner’s Office is conducting a separate investigation to determine the official cause and manner of death. No further operational details about the training exercise, including depth, equipment used, or the nature of the emergency, had been released at the time of publication.
Koon thanked SCDNR, SLED, and the coroner’s office for what he called a sensitive and respectful handling of the case, and expressed gratitude to the numerous public safety agencies from across South Carolina that responded to assist during the incident.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a statement on social media expressing condolences to Olson’s family, fellow deputies, and the Lexington County community. McMaster said he would order flags at the South Carolina Statehouse to be lowered to half-staff on the day of her funeral.
Public safety dive teams routinely train in open water to maintain readiness for search, rescue, and recovery operations, often in conditions involving limited visibility, cold water, and physical exertion under stress, factors that carry inherent risk even for experienced divers and trained personnel. Fatalities during public safety or law enforcement dive training, while uncommon, have prompted broader scrutiny of training protocols, supervision standards, and equipment checks within agencies that operate dive teams as part of their emergency response capabilities.
Authorities have not indicated whether Thursday’s training session will prompt a review of LCSD’s dive team procedures. This remains a developing story, and further details are expected as the SCDNR and coroner’s investigations proceed.
Diventures Magazine extends its condolences to Master Deputy Olson’s family, colleagues, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
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