By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• New York City filed a lawsuit against Jordan McGraw and his production company, alleging breach of contract over an NYPD reality show project.
• The suit claims “rough cut” episodes of Behind the Badge included sensitive content revealing undercover officers and confidential policing material.
• City officials obtained a court order blocking distribution of the unfinished, unaired footage.
• McGraw’s attorneys have sought to move the case to federal court and challenged the restraining order.
• The dispute centers on editorial control and public safety concerns tied to the unaired series.
NEW YORK, NY — New York City officials have filed a lawsuit against television producer Jordan McGraw and his company, alleging breach of contract and seeking to block the distribution of footage from an unaired reality show about the New York Police Department.
The suit, filed this week in New York state court, claims episode drafts of the series Behind the Badge included unedited sensitive material that violated terms of the production agreement, including the identities of undercover officers, crime victims and operational details.
City lawyers obtained a court order prohibiting McGraw Media and McGraw from selling or disseminating any footage from the unfinished project while the case proceeds. McGraw’s legal team has responded by filing to move the matter to federal court and contesting the order as an unconstitutional prior restraint.
The reality series, which was developed under a contract with the City in 2025, was intended to highlight NYPD work but was dropped late last year amid editorial quality concerns. The agreement gave city officials approval over edits and the right to withhold content deemed not “usable” under public safety and privacy standards.
According to the complaint, despite objections and requested edits, McGraw Media indicated it planned to distribute the material and was seeking buyers, prompting the City’s legal challenge to forestall potential harm to officers, investigations and the public trust.
No trial date has been set, and the case remains active in state court as parties await further proceedings.