An Illinois park executive is facing backlash after she was accused of using a taxpayer-funded credit card to help pay for an $800 helicopter rental for her daughter’s prom photoshoot.
Quintina Brown, head of the Markham Park District outside Chicago, arranged for the helicopter to land at Roesner Park on May 8 so her 17-year-old daughter Quamyra could pose for pictures in front of it.
The helicopter company gave an invoice to city attorney Kelly Krauchun that included a credit card number linked to Brown, according to WPSD.
The invoice reportedly listed “Markham Parks” as the customer, used the park district fieldhouse address and included Brown’s signature.
Krauchun said at least the deposit was charged to a park district credit card funded by taxpayers.
“They told me that the deposit was charged to the card, and they have not been successful in getting the remaining $800 off the card, for whatever reason,” Krauchun said, referring to the helicopter company.
The invoice was reportedly for a minimum of $800 for one hour of service.
Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa said residents should be concerned if a park district credit card was used either to pay for or secure the booking.
Brown denied any misuse of public money, telling NBC 5: “There was no misuse of funds at all,” and insisting she used her own credit card.
“[My daughter] was graduating and this was going to be a memorable experience. I just wanted to be able to provide that for her,” Brown told WGN-TV.
“She wanted to do a prom photo shoot.”
Police said the helicopter flew “alarmingly” low before landing near an active basketball court and playground area.
Children nearby ran from the area when the chopper touched down, according to city attorney Kelly Krauchun.
Court documents described the incident as an “unpermitted landing and operation of a helicopter on park district property, near playgrounds and residential homes,” NBC 5 reported.
Agpawa blasted the incident as “reckless.”
“This is what happens when you have no oversight, no governance,” Agpawa said. “You’re not answering to the public as you should.”
Agpawa, who said he has experience landing helicopters, alleged that proper safety precautions were not taken for the photoshoot.
“We want to make sure that things are safe. We had no notice, nothing,” he said.
“We’ve always had medical people on standby. We’ve had the fire department on standby. We’ve had spotters. We’ve had distances that were safe.”
Krauchun told CBS News that the helicopter landed “right behind basketball courts, where children were playing basketball, right behind the park district facility fieldhouse, and in a residential neighborhood.”
“It seems pretty self-evident that that’s not a good idea to land a helicopter on park district property, but apparently it has to be said,” she added.
But Brown insisted there were no children nearby when the helicopter landed and said she did not realize any ordinance had been violated.
Body camera footage showed the helicopter parked in the field while Brown’s daughter posed in front of it wearing a purple prom dress.
The only written approval for the event was reportedly a letter Brown signed herself authorizing the shoot.
Both Brown and the pilot were cited for disorderly conduct and unauthorized landing on public property.
Despite the backlash, Brown said she did not regret the stunt.
“I did not think it was going to blow up as much as it did, sadly,” she said.
“But I’m glad she was happy and she was able to do her photo shoot despite the unexpected turn of events that transpired and unfortunately went viral.”
Her daughter Quamyra said she was disappointed by the controversy.
“I was a little sad and disappointed because I didn’t know there was an issue with [the helicopter] being out here,” she said.
“It was super amazing. I had such a great time. So I’m thankful for my mom. She brought everything together, so I’m thankful for that.”
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