NYC vs. McGraw Media NYPD Reality Show That Filmed a Security Code, Exposed Undercover Officers, and Ended Up in Court

New York City and McGraw Media — the production company run by Jordan McGraw, son of TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw — settled a lawsuit on March 27, 2026 over a reality show filmed inside the New York Police Department. The show, titled Behind the Badge, had been stalled in court since January after the city accused McGraw Media of including footage it had no right to air: unblurred faces of uncharged arrestees, encrypted radio communications, an officer typing a security door code on camera, and discussions of undercover officer identities. 

Under the settlement, the city retains editorial control, McGraw Media will provide rough cuts of all nine episodes to the NYPD for review, and will incorporate the department’s edits into the final version before the show airs.

Field	Detail
Case	New York City v. McGraw Media LLC
Filed	January 2026
Settled	March 27, 2026
Show Title	Behind the Badge
Production Company	McGraw Media LLC (Jordan McGraw)
Host	Dr. Phil McGraw
Planned Network	MeritTV (cable and streaming)
Original Contract Signed	April 2025
Contract Abandoned	Late 2025 (hours before Mayor Mamdani took office)
Settlement Terms	NYPD retains editorial control over all 9 episodes
Episodes Already Edited	4 (to city specifications)
Remaining Feedback Deadline	Episodes 5–6: early April 2026; Episodes 7–9: April 16, 2026

What Was Actually in the Footage That Triggered the Lawsuit

The dispute was not about tone or framing. It was about specific content the NYPD said could get officers killed or criminals set free.

The lawsuit said the show contained footage of an officer inputting a security code at a police station entrance, discussions of encrypted police communications, and the unblurred faces of people who were arrested by police but who had not yet been tried or convicted of any crime. Under New York law, arrests are not convictions. Showing an uncharged person’s face in a nationally distributed TV show before any trial creates both legal exposure for the city and serious safety concerns.

McGraw Media also agreed to remove all content the NYPD flags as portraying the city or the department in a negative light, in addition to removing anything the department deems inaccurate, confidential, legally prohibited from release, or revealing of investigatory techniques. The settlement gives the NYPD unusually broad editorial authority — essentially a final-cut right over all nine episodes.

How a Three-Year Contract Between the Adams Administration and Dr. Phil’s Son Fell Apart

The origins of this dispute go back to a deal made under a mayor who is no longer in office.

New York City signed a three-year contract with McGraw Media in April 2025 under the Adams administration, calling for McGraw Media to produce up to 17 episodes per year, with the city retaining the right to opt out. The show followed members of the NYPD’s Community Response Team, a unit created under Adams to handle quality-of-life complaints. Former Chief of Department John Chell and former Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry, who championed the project, said the show was intended to humanize police officers.

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The city abandoned Behind the Badge in late 2025, hours before Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office, after saying it had expressed concerns to McGraw about the show’s quality and content. What followed made the situation dramatically worse: according to the lawsuit, McGraw Media indicated it would not accept any of the city’s edits and intended to distribute the flagged material, and was actively looking for a buyer to air the show.

That response — effectively telling the city it had no say in how footage of its own police officers would be broadcast — is what pushed the dispute from a contract disagreement into a lawsuit.

What Both Sides Said After Settling

The NYPD framed the settlement as a straightforward contract enforcement matter. NYPD officials said the department got everything it wanted in the settlement, describing the court battle as simply enforcing the terms of the original contract.

McGraw Media’s attorney, Charles “Chip” Babcock, offered a more collaborative characterization. Babcock said both sides reached an agreement Friday morning after an editorial review process that had gone smoothly for the last few weeks, and that the parties now had agreed-upon edits after a full exchange of views. He also pushed back on the idea that McGraw Media had ever intended to broadcast dangerous material, saying the production company was always going to remove anything life-threatening.

Earlier, when the lawsuit was first filed, Babcock had said the city’s legal action came as a surprise since publication was not imminent and McGraw Media had worked with the city to address its edit requests and was willing to continue doing so.

The Bigger Question: Who Controls How the NYPD Is Shown on Television?

The settlement terms raise a question that goes well beyond this particular show. The NYPD now holds the right to remove any content it considers inaccurate, confidential, dangerous — or that portrays the department in a negative light. That last category is notably broad.

A police department that can veto any scene it finds unflattering is a police department that can shape its own public image with few checks. The settlement does not resolve that tension — it simply establishes that in this case, the NYPD won. McGraw Media, which had behind-the-scenes access no independent journalist would have received, traded editorial independence for the right to release the show at all.

The dispute highlighted broader tensions between the city and media producers seeking access to sensitive police operations and information — and how that access comes with strings attached that can ultimately determine whether content sees the light of day.

What Happens Next With Behind the Badge

According to the settlement, McGraw Media has already edited the first four episodes to the city’s specifications. The city expects to provide feedback on episodes five and six by early the following week, and on the last three episodes by April 16, 2026.

Episodes are planned to air on Phil McGraw’s MeritTV cable and streaming channels, where he had previously done segments featuring the police department. No premiere date has been announced publicly. The settlement itself is expected to be filed formally with the court within days of the March 27 agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did New York City sue its own contracted production partner? 

The city signed a contract that gave it editorial rights over the final show. When McGraw Media provided rough cuts containing footage of security codes, unblurred uncharged arrestees, and discussions of encrypted police communications — and then refused to remove it — the city went to court to enforce the contract terms it says were always in place.

Does the NYPD now have the right to censor anything negative about the department?

 Under the settlement, yes — within this show. McGraw Media agreed to remove any content the NYPD flags as portraying the city or department in a negative light, in addition to removing confidential or legally prohibited material. Critics note this gives the department significant power to control its own narrative.

Will Behind the Badge ever actually air? 

The settlement clears a legal path for the show to be released. All nine episodes are in various stages of the NYPD review and editing process, with the final three episodes scheduled for feedback by April 16, 2026. The show is planned to air on Dr. Phil McGraw’s MeritTV network.

Was Jordan McGraw accused of breaking the law?

 The lawsuit alleged breach of contract — a civil claim — not criminal conduct. The city argued McGraw Media violated the production agreement it had signed with the NYPD by including prohibited material and refusing to edit it out.

Who is Jordan McGraw and what does he do professionally?

 Jordan McGraw is the son of Dr. Phil McGraw, the television psychologist and talk show host. Jordan McGraw runs McGraw Media, a production company. He is also a musician who previously performed as an opening act on concert tours.

What is MeritTV? 

MeritTV is a cable and streaming network launched by Dr. Phil McGraw following the end of his long-running daytime talk show. He had previously produced NYPD-related content for the network before the Behind the Badge project was commissioned.

Last Updated: March 29, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.