A rookie NYPD cop who hit the headlines after giving a married lieutenant a lap dance at a holiday party has offered a tearful apology to the man's wife.
Vera Mekuli, 26, has apologized to Melissa McGarry after giving her husband Lieutenant Nick McGarry a lap dance at Rory Dolan's bar in Yonkers on December 15.
Mekuli also revealed she's been working from home since the story emerged - and angrily told of how she's felt 'judged' over the incident, which she says has been fueled by misogyny.
'I want to apologize the lieutenant's wife, you know, I am sorry, truly I am,' she said in a video obtained by TMZ. 'I hope it didn't cause too much damage in the marriage or in your personal life.
'I know it's been rough,' she continued. 'It wasn't meant to be like this, I really had no knowledge of your marriage.'
She claimed it was supposed to be for 's**ts and giggles' and that 'everyone had been having drinks,' but it has led to embarrassment. The cop is now 'working from home' this week.
Vera Mekuli, 26, has apologized to Lieutenant Nick McGarry's wife Melissa, claiming she 'had no knowledge of your marriage' when she gave her husband a lap dance at the 44th Precinct's holiday party on December 15
The rookie cop said she has face a lot of judgement since the party
The rookie cop was caught on tape giving her superior a festive lap dance. She said she is now working from home due to embarrassment and does not know when she'll return
'There's a lot of judgment and shame that shouldn't be there, even though there's a lot of support.'
Mekuli also said that the 'mile of area' that her precinct patrols made her worry that people will recognize her and go: 'Oh, that's the girl, she gave the lap dance.'
'My work me, my work self, and the off duty are two different people. I can still patrol and police the streets like I used to and the way anyone can. I feel like I shouldn't be judged or anything of that sort because of a lap dance off duty, not in uniform.'
She also claimed she was judged harsher because she was a 'woman' and 'not a man,' and that her 'rookie' status also played a role. She claimed that if she was a man 'it would have been more of a joking matter and remained in-house.'
Footage from the event showed Mekuli grinding her backside on McGarry's lap as he sits in a chair and holds onto her thighs.
Nick McGarry has been moved to Transit District 12 in the Bronx following the lap dance
Mekuli also told Melissa (pictured) via video that she hoped it 'didn't cause too much damage in the marriage or in your personal life'
In another video, the rookie cop turns around to face McGarry and straddles the 44th precinct commander as he grabs her by the waist.
In the video, Mekuli appears carefree as she throws her hands in the air and dances on her superior to cheers from the crowd.
One onlooker, meanwhile, yelled 'Oh my God,' and another appeared to hand the lieutenant a wad of cash.
In a different scene, she grinds on a different man, who is bent over and facing the floor.
McGarry lives in the city's northern suburbs with his wife, Melissa, and their kids
NYPD brass wasted no time in disciplining McGarry, who has been with the NYPD since 2010.
He was reportedly reassigned to serve in Transit District 12 in the Bronx after the tawdry video surfaced.
An unnamed source told the New York Post in the aftermath that he 'knows he f***** up.'
'Messing with your subordinate is a no-no on the job,' the source said, adding that the rookie cop 'doesn't know any better because she just came on the job.
'I can't even tell you how many times they tell incoming supervisors that,' he said, noting: 'It sets a bad precedent.'
Following the news of Mekuli's raunchy encounter with her boss, her father said she has been crying over the ordeal - and he now plans to sue.
The rookie's dad told the Post on Monday that his daughter told him: 'Daddy, I made some mistake. I'm very embarrassed about what I did. I embarrassed you and my family.'
The father said his daughter is 'frustrated' over the incident.
'She cried and cried,' he said. 'She is young. She doesn't know how but he is married, the lieutenant. He should know better.
'I am going to sue them.'
There was further drama on Monday when Melissa McGarry yelled at a New York Post reporter and photographer outside the house in New Windsor, screaming 'F*** you!' at them as she was restrained by her husband.
'It's not worth it, get back in the car,' the lieutenant told his fuming wife as she continued her rant.
Melissa McGarry told the press members: 'There are other things to worry about in this world!'
As the couple drove away, Melissa McGarry took her hands off the steering wheel and flipped the bird to the reporter with both hands, screaming: 'F*** you! F*** you! F*** you!'
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