Overview
- A state judge issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday barring distribution of “Behind the Badge,” with a court hearing set for Friday.
- The lawsuit says rough cuts reveal unblurred undercover officers, a precinct back‑door passcode, detainees, juveniles and crime victims, along with encrypted communications and confidential tactics.
- City filings describe an April 2025 Adams‑era contract granting exclusive access in exchange for safety review rights; McGraw Media delivered four rough cuts and an unedited footage dump for the rest before the city terminated the deal on Dec. 31, 2025.
- New York City seeks to block any sale or broadcast, recover damages for alleged breach, and pursue trademark and dilution claims tied to NYPD logos.
- McGraw’s attorney calls the effort an unconstitutional prior restraint and says the team addressed edit requests, while reporting notes the deal moved forward over NYPD leadership objections and that an LLC linked to McGraw was paid $500,000 by Adams’s 2025 campaign.