The Post has learned that a New York Police Department (NYPD) detective assigned to the Special Victims Unit is at the center of controversy after appearing in a viral pole-dancing video.
Detective Melissa Mercado, a seven-year veteran of the force, is seen in a music video for rapper S-Quire’s song “Doin That.” In the video, she gyrates and twerks while dressed in a skimpy bra and thong.
The footage, published by World Hip Hop, has circulated among NYPD officers, who have reacted with mixed emotions.
“I have no words,” one detective told The Post.
Mixed Reactions From NYPD Insiders
Some within the department have criticized the video, questioning whether Mercado’s behavior is appropriate for a detective handling sensitive cases in the Bronx Special Victims Unit.
Retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief Michael Osgood said, “I think this conduct is unbecoming of a police officer. I find it morally wrong, especially for a special victims detective.”
Others have defended Mercado, arguing that her off-duty activities should not concern the department.
“What she’s doing has nothing to do with her job as an NYPD detective,” a police union source said. “She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia, and nothing in the video suggests she’s a detective.”
However, the source noted that if Mercado profited from the performance, she would need to file an off-duty employment application with the department.
Another police insider described Mercado as a respected officer with a strong record of arrests.
NYPD’s History of Officers in Controversial Situations
Mercado is not the first NYPD officer to face scrutiny for off-duty activities.
- In 2023, a rookie officer faced backlash for dancing on duty with a turnstile jumper in a subway station.
- In 2022, Bronx rookie cop Vera Mekuli was filmed giving a married lieutenant a lap dance at a police holiday party, which led to her transfer to the transit bureau.
- In 2018, two female officers were demoted after posing with a nearly nude male stripper at a Mother’s Day event while in uniform.
No Immediate Response From NYPD or Mercado
Whether Mercado will face departmental discipline over her appearance in the video remains unclear.
Neither Mercado, rapper S-Quire, nor the NYPD have responded to requests for comment.
