A detective from New York City’s special victims unit is causing quite the stir after being identified in a steamy pole dancing video that’s making the rounds online.
Melissa Mercado, who’s spent seven years with New York’s Finest, appears in a music video published by World Hip Hop that shows the detective dancing provocatively while wearing minimal clothing – just a thong and bra.
“I have no words,” one detective told The Post, clearly unimpressed with their colleague’s extracurricular activities.
From Detective Work to Dance Moves
The controversial performance appears in the “Doin That” video by Hempstead rapper S-Quire (real name: Phavian Winfield, according to Chartmetric).
In the video, the rapper doesn’t hold back with lyrics like “Wanna tell you ’bout a girl named Keisha. A– thick. Just want to smash it quick,” and “I like the way she’s doing that, the way she’s sliding up the pole.”
Mercado, who earns $144,000 annually as a grade 3 detective in the Bronx special victims unit, joined the force in 2018, according to records.
Department Divided
While Mercado isn’t identified by name in the video, law enforcement sources confirmed to The Post that it is indeed her in the footage that’s been circulating widely among NYPD officers.
Interestingly, opinions within the department seem split on whether this should be an issue at all.
“What she’s doing really has nothing to do with her as an employee, as an NYC detective,” one police union source defended.
“She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective.”
The same source added a caveat: “If she is performing for money, if she has a side gig, the job would want to know about that.
The member would be obligated to file an off-duty employment application. I would say nothing she does in the video is the department’s business.”
Respected on the Force
Despite the eyebrow-raising nature of the video, Mercado apparently has a solid reputation within the department.
Another police source came to her defense, noting that she has “made some good collars” and is “respected by her peers.”
Not the First NYPD Scandal
This isn’t the first time an NYPD officer has found themselves in a compromising situation.
Back in 2022, then-rookie Bronx officer Vera Mekuli was caught on video giving a married lieutenant a lap dance during what was described as a “rowdy police party.”
The Post reached out to Detective Mercado for comment, but she has not responded.
When contacted about the video, S-Quire declined to comment on Thursday.
The NYPD has yet to issue an official response to the situation.
The Bigger Picture
While some might be quick to judge, the situation raises interesting questions about what public servants do in their private time and whether it should affect perceptions of their professional capabilities.
With opinions inside the department clearly divided, it remains to be seen if Mercado will face any professional consequences for her dancing side gig, or if the department will consider it entirely separate from her detective work.