NYPD Detective Removed From Active Cases And Under Review For Pole-Dancing In Viral Music Video

Detective Melissa Mercado, an NYPD sex crimes investigator, has been pulled from active cases pending a review after she appeared as a stripper in rapper S-Quire's music video.

Retired officials have since criticized her actions as inappropriate for her role, while some of Mercado's colleagues called it an embarrassment.

Melissa Mercado, described as laid-back, reportedly didn't expect the video to go viral as the NYPD is now determining if she violated department policies.

Mercado, the NYPD officer who gained viral attention for her unexpected appearance as a stripper in a provocative music video, has been temporarily removed from handling active sex crimes investigations.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that while Mercado has a reputation as a skilled investigator, she is currently not assigned new cases in the Special Victims Unit, which focuses on sex crime investigations, as officials examine her off-duty activities.

The review aims to determine whether she properly filed the necessary paperwork required for officers who take on secondary employment outside their police duties.

At this stage, it remains unclear if her participation in the "Doin That" music video, where she was seen dancing in a club, a VIP room, and posing on a bed in lingerie, violates any NYPD policies.

According to official records, Mercado is a third-grade detective with the Bronx Special Victims Unit, earning $144,000 annually, and has been with the NYPD since 2018.

In an interview with the news outlet, S-Quire and the video's director, Pitch Perfect, revealed that Mercado was brought on through a casting agency, and they had no clue she was an NYPD officer at the time.

Pitch Perfect told TMZ that Mercado's appearance in S-Quire's music video has made her a highly sought-after dancer for other rap projects.

"Everyone loved this model," the director said, with S-Quire echoing the sentiment, calling her a "beautiful woman."

"I've had tons of artists reach out trying to get her in their video," Pitch Perfect revealed, jokingly adding, "If you look at it like that, it might be a great thing for her. I think she wins."

During a chat with the Daily Mail, S-Quire described Mercado as a "friend" and "associate," saying he connected with her through the video's producer, Picture Perfect.

According to S-Quire, the detective volunteered to participate in the project, which was filmed in early 2022 at Club Vanity, a gentlemen's club in Queens.

The producer had connections with the club's owner, allowing them to shoot on location for free before business hours. The entire shoot lasted about three and a half hours.

"She just wanted to help me out with the video, help me get my vision out,'" S-Quire explained. "I just thought she had a great look."

According to the news outlet, S-Quire said he only knew Mercado by her nickname, Honeybee, the same name she uses on social media.

"I didn't know what she did for a living," he admitted, laughing. "She doesn't seem like a detective. When you think of detectives, you think of Special Victims Unit on the TV."

Despite her sultry on-screen persona, he described the detective as "cool and laid back," adding that she is "just a regular, down-to-earth human being."

S-Quire admitted he was caught off guard by the video's sudden popularity and believes Mercado was equally unprepared for the viral attention.

"I think she thought the video wasn't going to go anywhere," he said. "This is just one of those things."

Weighing in on the now-viral video, which has racked up over 1.6 million views, retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief Michael Osgood called it especially troubling for a detective handling sex crimes to appear in content that objectifies women.

"I think this conduct is unbecoming a police officer," Osgood said. "I find it wrong morally if you're a special victims detective."

Retired police officer and attorney Eric Sanders also believes Mercado should face consequences.

"She should be modified," he argued. "What she did is inconsistent with the values of being a police officer. Police work is a noble profession, and it's supposed to look a certain way."

Another NYPD officer, who spoke with the Daily Mail, expressed disappointment over Mercado's involvement in the music video, calling it an embarrassment to the force.

"I really don't understand why this woman would do something that dumb," a detective told the news outlet. "We are supposed to be held to a higher standard as role models."