A New York Police Department (NYPD) detective assigned to the special victims' unit has drawn criticism after appearing in a provocative rap music video. Detective Melissa Mercado, who has served in the NYPD for seven years, was featured pole dancing in a G-string while being showered with dollar bills in the video for rapper S-Quire’s song “Doin That.”
The video, released by World Hip Hop, includes explicit lyrics describing a woman’s physique and actions.
“Wanna tell you ’bout a girl named Keisha,” the rapper says. “A** thick. Just want to smash it quick. I like the way she’s doing that, the way she’s sliding up the pole.”
The video has sparked controversy within the law enforcement community, with some detectives expressing outrage.
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“I have no words,” one NYPD detective told the New York Post after watching the video.
Despite the backlash, Mercado’s involvement in the video does not appear to violate department rules.
According to records cited by the Post, she is a grade 3 detective earning $144,000 a year and is assigned to the Bronx special victims' unit.
While she was not credited in the video, NYPD sources confirmed Mercado’s identity.
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Some detectives criticized her actions, but the NYPD police union stated that she had committed no offense that would warrant termination.
A police union source defended Mercado’s right to engage in activities outside of work, noting that she was not identified as an NYPD officer in the video.
“What she’s doing really has nothing to do with her as an employee, as an NYC detective,” the union source told the Post.
“She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective.”
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The source added that if Mercado was being paid for her appearance, she would need to submit an off-duty employment application for approval.
“If she is performing for money, if she has a side gig, the job would want to know about that,” the source said.
“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.”
However, not everyone in law enforcement agrees with the union’s stance.
Retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief Michael Osgood condemned Mercado’s participation in the video, stating that her actions were inappropriate for someone in her position.
“There’s a line of thinking that what you do off duty, you do off duty,” Osgood said.
“But I think this conduct is unbecoming a police officer. I find it wrong morally if you’re a special victims detective.”
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As the controversy continues, it remains unclear whether Mercado will face any internal disciplinary action or if the NYPD will require her to formally disclose any outside employment related to the video.
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