Melissa Mercado, NYPD Officer, Caught Pole Dancing in Rapper S-Quire’s Video

One of the detectives with the NYPD has landed in trouble after stepping out of her regular beat. Melissa Mercado, a seven-year NYPD veteran and a member of the Special Victims Unit, has raised controversy after she featured in a rap song by singer S-Quire, in which she appeared pole dancing in a G-string. The video, which has gone viral, has raised controversy in and around the NYPD with questions being raised about whether what she did contravenes departmental regulations.

Released in early February 2025, the music video for S-Quire’s track “Doin That” features Mercado in multiple eye-catching scenes. She’s shown pole dancing in a strip club setting, performing suggestive moves, and being showered with dollar bills. The video, widely described as raunchy and sexually charged, includes lyrics such as

“Ass is thick. Just want to smash it quick”

and

“I like the way she doin that, the way she sliding up the pole.”

Since its release, the clip has spread like wildfire online, drawing both attention and criticism.

The NYPD’s Patrol Guide sets strict standards for officers’ behavior, both on and off duty. While it doesn’t specifically address appearances in music videos, rules about off-duty employment and public conduct could come into play. If Mercado received payment for her role, she may have been required to report it through the department’s Paid Detail Unit. Her position in the Special Victims Unit, a division focused on sexual assault cases, adds another layer of complexity. Some argue her actions clash with the sensitivity and professionalism expected in her role.

The response within the NYPD has been divided. Some colleagues are stunned, with one officer quoted by the New York Post saying,

“I have no words.”

Others defend her, insisting it’s her personal life and legal, so long as it doesn’t break any laws. The story has exploded across media outlets, with DailyMail.com among those covering the scandal in detail. Mercado has stayed silent, dodging requests for comment and scrubbing her social media accounts soon after the uproar began.

Disciplinary options on the table could range from a formal reprimand to counseling or sensitivity training, particularly given her Special Victims Unit assignment. However, without clear-cut rules banning this type of off-duty behavior, the NYPD might decide it’s a personal matter that doesn’t warrant harsh punishment. The department has yet to release an official statement, leaving the question of consequences up in the air.

As the controversy unfolds, Mercado’s next steps and the NYPD’s response remain uncertain.