A DETECTIVE from the NYPD has sparked outrage after pole dancing in her underwear and performing in a strip club for a rap video.
Melissa Mercado, from the Special Victim’s Unit in the Bronx, made a drastic change by swapping her police uniform for a black lace bra and thong. She starred in rapper S-Quire’s music video for the song ‘Doin’ That’ where she can be seen engaging in provocative dance moves.
In the video, which gained widespread attention online, Mercado is shown twerking on a pole, giving the rapper a lap dance, and moving on the floor of a strip club while being showered with dollar bills.
Despite the risky display of her body in the video, the 28-year-old NYPD officer, who has served on the force for seven years, confidently showed off her figure while the rapper S-Quire watched with interest and rapped explicit lyrics.
The lyrics include lines like: “A** is thick. Just want to smash it quick” and “I like the way she doin that, the way she sliding up the pole”.
Mercado’s identity only came to light when the video went viral with 1.4 million views in a month and she was recognised by fellow officers who have slammed her for her actions.
Even S-Quire was unaware of the beauty’s profession, telling the Daily Mail that he knew her only as Honeybee, her nickname and social media handle.
The rapper from Long Island whose real name is Phabian Winfield said: “I didn’t know what she did for a living.
“She doesn’t seem like a detective. When you think of detectives, you think of Special Victims Unit on the TV.
“This is interesting. I’m kind of blown away. I don’t know what to say about Honeybee at this point.”
He explained the pair met through the production company for the video and that they filmed it in early 2022 at Club Vanity in Queens.
Since the detective’s identity has come to light, current and former NYPD officers have blasted her for her off-duty hobbies.
One detective told the Mail: “I really don’t understand why this woman would do something that dumb.
“We are supposed to be held to a higher standard as role models.”
“I have no words,” another disgusted detective said.
Eric Saunders, a lawyer and former NYPD officer told the Mail her actions are “inconsistent with the values and professional standards the public expects from law enforcement – especially those entrusted with investigating sensitive cases involving special victims.”
He called for the police department to review her conduct, caseload and fitness for duty as he feared a decline in public confidence in the force.
It is unclear if the detective, who has since taken down her social media, is at risk of losing her job as a result of the steamy video.
But a source from the police union told The New York Post that the $144,000-a-year grade 3 cop’s actions “really have nothing to do with her as an employee, as an NYC detective.”
“She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective,” they added.
The source noted that she would have to flag to the NYPD that she is performing for money as a side gig but that “nothing she does in the video is the department’s business.”
Others including fellow officers have defended her actions.
One source said that the detective is “respected by her peers” and has made some impressive arrests.
“If being in a video does not hinder her job as a detective, who cares,” another viewer said on X.
Neither the NYPD nor Mercado have issued a comment on the video.
But it is not the first time one of New York’s Finest has been caught out in a raunchy video.
In 2021, rookie cop Vera Mekuli was filmed giving a lap dance to a married superior officer at a Christmas party.
The then 26-year-old issued an apology stating she did not know the lieutenant was married but that the video would not have caused so much backlash it were a man dancing.
After the video went viral, an investigation was launched and 44th Precinct Lt. Nick McGarry was booted to Transit District 12.
No official disciplinary action was taken against the rookie but a year later she made headlines against after “interfering with her brother-in-law’s drink-driving arrest” leading to a suspension.
