An executive from an Illinois park district is under fire for allegedly charging taxpayers for an $800 helicopter rental intended for her daughter’s prom photos.
Quintina Brown, who oversees Markham Park in Chicago’s suburbs, arranged for the helicopter to touch down in Rosner Park on May 8, allowing her 17-year-old daughter, Cumilla, to pose in front of it.
The helicopter company reportedly provided an invoice that linked a credit card number to Brown. City Attorney Kelly Klautschung confirmed this information.
The invoice listed “Markham Parks” as the client and utilized the Park District Fieldhouse address, with Brown’s signature included.
Krauchtun mentioned that a deposit had indeed been charged to the park district’s credit card.
“They told me the deposit had been charged, but for some reason, they haven’t managed to get the remaining $800,” he relayed regarding the helicopter company.
The total bill amounted to at least $800 for an hour of service.
Markham’s Mayor, Roger Agpawa, expressed concerns about the use of park district credit cards for such reservations.
Brown has denied any misuse, claiming, “There was no misappropriation of funds at all,” and insisting she paid with her own credit card.
“This was supposed to be a memorable experience as she prepares to graduate. I just wanted to give her that opportunity,” Brown added.
The situation escalated when police noted that the helicopter flew “alarmingly” low, landing near an active basketball court and playground. Children in the vicinity fled, according to City Attorney Kelly Krauchun.
Documents indicated that the incident involved an unauthorized landing and operation of a helicopter on park district land, close to homes and recreational areas.
Mayor Agpawa described the entire episode as “reckless,” emphasizing the lack of oversight. “This highlights what happens when proper governance is absent,” he said, stressing the importance of public safety.
Krauchtun reiterated the unsafe conditions, mentioning that the helicopter landed right behind playgrounds and courts where children were active.
“We want everything to be safe. We had no prior notice,” he noted.
While Brown contended that no children were around during the landing, some body camera footage depicted the helicopter in a field with her daughter posing in a prom dress nearby.
The only documented approval for the event appeared to be a letter signed by Brown herself, authorizing the filming.
Both Brown and the helicopter pilot now face charges of disorderly conduct and unauthorized landing on public property.
Despite the controversy surrounding the event, Brown expressed that she has no regrets. “Honestly, I didn’t anticipate it escalating like this,” she stated.
She added, “In spite of the unexpected backlash, I’m glad my daughter is happy with the photoshoot.”
Cumilla, her daughter, shared that she felt sad about the uproar. “I didn’t realize there was an issue. It was amazing, and I had such a great time. I am really thankful to my mom for organizing it,” she said.
