Coin Press - NYC sues to block Dr. Phil-fronted police documentary

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the city argues episodes of the documentary "Behind the Badge," which was given the green light by former mayor Eric Adams, "pose an imminent threat to the life and safety of active NYPD officers."

"For example, the faces, voices, and names of undercover officers conducting operations in plainclothes are not obscured," the complaint alleges.

"There are numerous other pieces of harmful footage that cannot be released to the public. For example, the identities of individuals in NYPD custody are depicted in the rough cuts without any blurring or redactions applied to their faces."

The city, now led by Democratic mayor Zohran Mamdani, is asking the court to prohibit the sale, distribution, or broadcast of the material, which a New York State Supreme Court judge temporarily granted on Wednesday.

Mamdani has sought to chart a starkly different course from his predecessor Adams, a flamboyant former police captain known for his idiosyncratic style and love of publicity.

On Friday, a judge will hold a hearing on the documentary that is produced by TV talkshow host Dr. Phil's son Jordan McGraw and his production company McGraw Media, court filings showed.

Ng.A.Adebayo--CPN