Aiken County Sheriff's Office

07/31/2026

We are sending our loving thoughts and prayers to Lexington County Sheriff's Department and her family.

Lexington County deputy dies during dive team training

LEXINGTON, S.C. – A member of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s dive team died Thursday during an underwater training session on Lake Murray.

Jillian Olson, 29, began her career as a Lexington County deputy in 2021. After more than a year as a patrol deputy, she transferred to a warrant deputy position. Olson was promoted to master deputy in the Warrant Division in 2025. She has been a member of the LCSD dive team since 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.”

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

“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.”

Olson, a resident of Lexington, 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 next month.

A native of Illinois, Olson graduated from Western Illinois University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration. 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 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 its own investigation to determine Olson's cause and manner of 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."

07/28/2026

Congratulations to Deputy Joseph Garcia on his successful completion and graduation from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy last Friday!

Yesterday, Sheriff Sawyer administered the Oath of Office to Deputy Garcia. We are excited to have Deputy Garcia back with us to start serving the citizens of Aiken County! Deputy Garcia will be assigned to the patrol division.

07/24/2026

Last night we held the first night of the first ever Aiken County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy!

We welcomed several wonderful community members who met the command staff, participated in a static display of several of our specialty vehicles, equipment, and K9's. They learned all about "Where it all starts" with dispatch operations. The night ended with a tour of our dispatch center!

We are looking forward to the next 8 weeks!

07/24/2026

Remembering Deputy Daniel Curtis Ahl. End of watch: July 22, 1902. Inducted into the SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Curtis Ahl
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: July 22, 1902

Daniel Curtis Ahl was born in Barnwell County in November of 1855 to Daniel and Nancy Ahl. He grew up on the family farm, with five brothers and two sisters. Curtis farmed for most of his life and by 1880 he was married to Sarah Ahl. In 1900, he was farming in Williston.

At some point, Curtis Ahl was appointed as a Deputy Sheriff for Aiken County.

On Tuesday, July 22, 1902, Aiken County Sheriff Owen Alderman and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Ahl were searching for the leader of a band of horse thieves, named Charles Jeffcoat near Wagener. Jeffcoat was wanted for shooting and killing Emanuel County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Flanders the week before, when Deputy Flanders was attempting to arrest Jeffcoat for a previous murder. Jeffcoat had led the posse on horseback through Aiken and Lexington counties, but the officers caught up to him as he neared his mother’s house in Perry. As the Sheriff and his Deputy rode up to arrest Jeffcoat, he spun his horse to the side, got behind the officers and fired at them with a shotgun. Deputy Ahl was struck in the back with buckshot and fell from his horse. Jeffcoat spurred his horse and escaped into the woods as Sheriff Alderman fired at him. Deputy Sheriff Curtis Ahl died within minutes.

Deputy Ahl’s body was carried to Wagener where an inquest was held. Following the inquest, he was taken to his family in Aiken, and he was laid to rest at his old home in Elko.

Sheriff Alderman telegraphed Governor McSweeney to send bloodhounds and with a large posse, mounted a massive manhunt that lasted for days. Jeffcoat escaped through the Congaree Swamp near Columbia where he jumped on a Seaboard Coastline train headed south.

On March 5, 1903, Jeffcoat was shot and killed in Andalusia, Alabama when he resisted arrest.

Deputy Sheriff D. Curtis Ahl was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on May 7, 2014, never to be forgotten.

07/21/2026

Last Friday, Sheriff Sawyer and several of our School Resource Officers attended the graduation for SRO Deputy Josh Tuper on his graduation from the two-week D.A.R.E. Officer Training Program!

During the two-week training class, Deputy Tuper gained the knowledge and skills needed to help educate and empower our students to make safe, healthy, and responsible choices. We are excited to see the positive impact Deputy Tuper will have on the students he serves.

Please join us in congratulating Deputy Tuper on this accomplishment and thanking him for his continued dedication to keeping our students and community safe. Deputy Tuper is looking forward to an amazing year of learning, leadership, and building positive relationships with our youth!

07/20/2026

What a fun time greeting the students on their first day of school!

Thanks to our first responders/police officers who helped greet the kids this morning for their first day of school …

A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges. We hope everyone has a safe and awesome first day of school. 🍎📓✏️

07/20/2026

We are proud to recognize one of our own for an outstanding achievement!

Last week during the South Carolina Sheriff's Conference, Detention Deputy Jasper Moore was awarded the 2026 Detention Officer of the Year!

This prestigious recognition reflects Deputy Moore's exemplary performance, high personal integrity, and overall dedication to the law enforcement profession. Deputy Moore's hard work, leadership, and compassion have made a lasting impact on both his fellow deputies and those in his care.

We are incredibly grateful to have Deputy Moore as part of our team!
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

07/19/2026

As a new school year begins tomorrow for many in Aiken County, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office wants to remind everyone to make safety a top priority in and around school zones.

- Watch for flashing school zones lights and obey the posted speed limit
-Stay alert to pedestrian crosswalks and watch for students and school crossing guards assisting students walking or biking to school.
-Stop for school buses picking up students if required by law. (see illustration)

Deputies will be monitoring school zones so please do your part to help protect our students!

07/13/2026

🐾K9 Lord has retired🐾

K9 Lord began his law enforcement career in 2019 after being generously purchased and donated by Mike Murphy Auto Group in support of public Safety. As a certified explosive detection K9, Lord faithfully served alongside his handler Lt. Mary Frantz, protecting deputies, first responders, and the community through countless deployments, searches, and special events.

Throughout his career K9 Lord, demonstrated exceptional drive, reliability, and professionalism. His highly trained nose and unwavering focus helped ensure the safety of schools, government facilities, public gatherings, critical infrastructure, and numerous high-risk incidents.

Beyond his operational successes, K9 Lord became a trusted partner and an ambassador for law enforcement, representing a vital role in working K9's play in keeping out community safe. His loyalty, courage, and work ethic earned the respect of fellow deputies and the admiration of everyone who had the privilege of watching him work.

Now, after years of dedicated service, K9 Lord retires from active duty. While his working days come to an end, his legacy of service and commitment to public safety will continue to be remembered. He has more than earned the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved retirement filled with rest, comfort, and the companionship of his handler and family.

The Sheriff's Office extends its sincere gratitude to Mike Murphy Auto Group for making K9 Lord's service possible through their generous support. Their investment in public safety helped provide years of protection and peace of mind for the community.

Thank you, K9 Lord for your faithful service, unwavering dedication, and the sacrifices you made throughout your career.

Enjoy your well-earned retirement, you've earned it!

07/12/2026

Operation Slow Down starts on Monday July 13, 2026, and will run through Saturday July 19th. This is a week long campaign across 5 states to focus on speeding enforcement and the safety of our roadways. You can expect to see an increase of deputies on our roadways during this campaign.