XMN News | March 6, 2025 | By Staff Writer
NEW YORK, NY – Melissa Mercado, a seven-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD) and a detective with the Bronx Special Victims Unit, has found herself at the center of a firestorm after appearing in a provocative music video that’s taken the internet by storm. The video, featuring rapper S-Quire’s track “Doin That,” shows Mercado pole-dancing and twerking in a G-string and bra, a stark contrast to her day job investigating sexual violence cases. As of March 6, 2025, the footage has gone viral, igniting debates about police conduct, personal freedom, and the expectations placed on law enforcement officers in their off-duty lives.
Mercado, who earns a reported $144,000 annually in her role with the NYPD, has drawn both criticism and support following the video’s resurfacing. Some former officers and colleagues have condemned her actions as “unbecoming” of a detective, particularly one tasked with handling sensitive cases in the Special Victims Unit. Michael Osgood, a retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief, told the New York Post, “I find it wrong morally if you’re a special victims detective.” Others within the department, however, have rallied to her defense, arguing that her off-duty activities are her own business. “She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective,” one police union source noted, emphasizing that Mercado’s personal life should remain separate from her professional role.
The video, originally posted on platforms like World Star Hip Hop and YouTube, has racked up significant views and comments since its release, with reactions ranging from shock to admiration. While Mercado isn’t named in the credits, NYPD sources confirmed her identity to multiple outlets, sparking further scrutiny. Some speculate whether her appearance was an attempt to moonlight in the entertainment world, though neither Mercado nor S-Quire has responded to requests for comment as of this writing. The NYPD has also remained silent on whether she’ll face disciplinary action, leaving the public to wonder if this is a case of harmless self-expression or a breach of departmental standards.
The controversy has reignited broader discussions about the boundaries of police officers’ personal lives. In 2022, an NYPD rookie made headlines for giving a lap dance to a married lieutenant at a holiday party, highlighting the department’s occasionally blurry lines between professionalism and off-duty behavior. For Mercado, a detective described by peers as “capable” with a record of “good collars,” the stakes may be higher given her role in a unit that demands public trust. Critics argue her actions could undermine that trust, while supporters counter that officers deserve the same freedoms as anyone else when the badge comes off.
As the story unfolds, XMN News reached out to Mercado’s now-deactivated social media accounts for comment, with no response received by press time. Posts on X reflect a divided public: some applaud her confidence and side hustle, while others question why a detective on a six-figure salary would “stoop to this.” For now, Melissa Mercado remains a polarizing figure—a cop by day, a viral sensation by night—leaving New Yorkers and beyond to debate where the line should be drawn.
