A New York Police Department detective assigned to the Special Victims Division has been removed from all active cases after her appearance in a viral rap music video sparked controversy.
Detective Melissa Mercado, a seven-year NYPD veteran, faced backlash after she was featured in Hempstead rapper S-Quire’s video for his single “Doin That,” which gained widespread attention after being posted on WorldStarHipHop.
Mercado, who reportedly earns $144,000 annually, is also known as Honeybee on social media, where she has shared modeling photos of herself.
Critics, including retired NYPD Special Victims Division Chief Michael Osgood, have called Mercado’s participation in the video inappropriate for an officer handling sensitive cases involving sexual assault and abuse.
“I find it wrong morally if you’re a special victims detective,” Osgood said.
Retired police officer and attorney Eric Sanders echoed similar concerns, stating:
“What she did is inconsistent with the values of being a police officer.”
While it remains unclear whether Mercado violated any department policies, the NYPD has reassigned her amid the growing scrutiny. The video’s director, Pitch Perfect, claimed that he and the artist were unaware of Mercado’s position within the NYPD at the time of filming.
Meanwhile, Mercado’s newfound visibility has led to a surge in opportunities in the music industry.
According to Pitch Perfect, multiple artists have since reached out to feature her in upcoming videos.
