El Dorado Hills resident Quinn Cuthbertson joined the Coast Guard fresh out of college, planning to follow in his family’s footsteps to the aviation field.

Although life didn’t exactly work out according to plan, Cuthbertston certainly did have his fair share of adventure on the high seas, sometimes spending up to 45 days at a time on a 280-foot Coast Guard Cutter. His primary role was to assist the U.S. Navy with narcotics and immigration interdiction, an experience that gave him many of the skills he would later apply to his career with the California Highway Patrol.

After an on-duty car accident injured both his knees, Cuthbertson transferred to the Sacramento area, and in 2012, he became the new public information officer for the CHP’s Placerville office. He now spends his days relaying traffic and safety information to the media, as well as volunteering his time to educate area residents about crucial topics, such as car seat safety and the dangers of distracted driving. However, his most passionate side project is the Chips for Kids program, an annual Christmas toy drive. He and his two sons (ages 9 and 11) help out each year, and Cuthbertson hopes the experience will teach his kids the importance of giving back. “I believe these toy drives change some people’s lives,” he explains. “It gives them hope.”

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