Taxpayer watchdog calls for accountability after helicopter prom controversy

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A taxpayer watchdog is calling for a potential criminal investigation after allegations surfaced that a suburban Chicago park district official may have used public resources to fund a helicopter prom photo shoot for her daughter.

Brian Costin, deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity Illinois, said the allegations involving Quintina Brown raise concerns about abuse of public office and taxpayer trust.

“I think it’s pretty clear if the facts are indeed true that Quintina Brown abused her official position for private benefit,” Costin told The Center Square. “The state’s attorney should take a good look at this to see if it qualifies for official misconduct.”

The controversy stems from a May 8 helicopter landing at Roesner Park in Markham, where Brown allegedly arranged for a helicopter to land for her daughter’s prom send-off and photoshoot.

Police body camera footage captured officers questioning the pilot and Brown about whether the landing had been authorized.

According to CBS Chicago, an invoice tied to the helicopter company listed “Markham Parks” as the customer, included the park district’s address, and showed a credit card linked to Brown that city officials allege may have been taxpayer funded.

According to NBC Chicago, Brown has denied misusing public funds and told NBC Chicago she used her personal credit card for the booking.

Costin said the allegations go beyond poor judgment and could potentially violate state law if public resources were used for a private event.

“Using public property for private purposes is outside of the normal process. It’s not allowed,” Costin said. “Paying for extravagances related to your daughter’s prom is obviously not a public purpose.”

The city of Markham has filed legal action against Brown and the park district, seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Costin argued the incident reflects broader concerns about oversight and accountability in Illinois local government, particularly in communities with high property taxes.

“Markham has an extremely high effective property tax rate,” Costin said. “To think that taxpayers in a community with a lot of lower-income families could potentially be paying for something like a helicopter prom photo shoot is about as far away from public purpose as possible.”

He also questioned why local law enforcement and prosecutors have not taken more visible action.

“Where’s the state’s attorney on this? Where are the local police?” Costin said. “People need to know where to go to find justice when they believe taxpayer money is being spent illegally.”

As part of broader reforms, Costin said AFP Illinois has supported proposals for expanded local inspector general offices to investigate allegations of misconduct involving local governments and taxing bodies.

The incident has sparked widespread backlash online and renewed scrutiny over ethics and spending practices among Illinois municipalities. Brown and the helicopter pilot were both cited for disorderly conduct and unauthorized landing on public property, according to media reports.