Melissa Mercado’s Off-Duty Performance Ignites Debate Over Professional Conduct

March 08, 2025 - New York City, NY – A seven-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD) has found herself at the center of a firestorm after appearing in a provocative rap music video. Detective Melissa Mercado, assigned to the Bronx Special Victims Unit, was identified as the scantily clad woman pole-dancing and twerking in the video for “Doin That” by Long Island-based rapper S-Quire. The clip, which has amassed over 1.4 million views on WorldStarHipHop’s YouTube channel since its February release, has divided opinions within the NYPD and among the public.

In the video, Mercado gyrates in a black G-string, bra, and glitter boots, performing sultry moves in a rented strip club setting. She crawls across the floor, delivers a lap dance to S-Quire, and slides down a pole while dollar bills rain around her. The song’s explicit lyrics, including lines like “A— is thick. Just want to smash it quick” and “I like the way she’s sliding up the pole,” have only fueled the controversy surrounding her appearance.

The revelation of Mercado’s participation sent shockwaves through the NYPD. “I have no words,” one unnamed detective told the New York Post, echoing the sentiment of colleagues who found the performance “disgusting” and “unbecoming of a police officer.” Retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief Michael Osgood weighed in, arguing that Mercado’s actions undermine her credibility in her sensitive role. “There’s a line of thinking that what you do off duty, you do off duty,” Osgood said. “But I think this conduct is morally wrong if you’re a special victims detective.”

Mercado, who earns $144,000 annually as a grade-3 detective, joined the force in 2018. Sources within the NYPD confirmed her identity, though she was not credited in the video. While some officers expressed outrage, others defended her right to personal freedom. “What she’s doing really has nothing to do with her as an employee, as an NYC detective,” a police union source told the Post. “She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective.” The source added that if Mercado was paid for the gig, she would need to file an off-duty employment application—a detail that remains unclear.

The video’s creators, rapper S-Quire (Phavian Winfield) and director Pitch Perfect, claimed ignorance of Mercado’s profession during production. In an interview with TMZ, they said she was hired through a legitimate casting agency for the 2022 shoot at Club Vanity in NYC. “She was such a pro,” they noted, distancing themselves from the ensuing scandal while acknowledging the video’s viral success.

Public reaction has been equally polarized. Social media platforms buzz with comments ranging from condemnation—“She has an image to uphold and obviously doesn’t appreciate her position”—to support—“If it doesn’t hinder her job, who cares?” Some even injected humor, with one X user quipping, “Detective to stripper pipeline has begun.” The debate has reignited broader questions about off-duty conduct for law enforcement and whether personal pursuits should impact professional standing.

The NYPD has yet to issue an official statement, leaving Mercado’s fate uncertain. Sources suggest she may face disciplinary measures ranging from a reprimand to sensitivity training, though the department’s Patrol Guide lacks explicit rules about music video appearances. For now, Mercado has remained silent, letting the viral video—and the controversy—speak for itself.

This isn’t the first time an NYPD officer’s off-duty antics have made headlines. In 2022, rookie officer Vera Mekuli was filmed giving a lap dance to a superior at a holiday party, resulting in her reassignment. Mercado’s case, however, strikes a unique chord given her Special Victims Unit role, amplifying the stakes of this unfolding story. As the video continues to circulate, all eyes remain on the NYPD to see how—or if—they’ll respond to their detective’s racy sideline.