A paid-for trip to talk immigration with Dr. Phil sparks questions about NYPD's John Chell

NEW YORK — John Chell, the NYPD’s top uniformed cop, had at least $1,000 in travel expenses covered by Dr. Phil last year to participate in an interview with the conservative TV personality — an example of how the powerful police official has become a mainstay of right-wing media, according to records reviewed by the Daily News.

Chell, a key ally to Mayor Eric Adams who was at the time the department’s chief of patrol, took the trip to Texas in March 2024 to do an interview with Dr. Phil about New York’s “migrant crime wave.”

The intersection of migrants and crime is a key talking point of President Trump’s administration as it pursues an aggressive deportation agenda, and Chell’s comped Texas trip came at a time he was emerging as a regular on Trump-boosting news shows, raising concerns about him mixing policing with partisan politics.

In addition to Dr. Phil’s shows, Chell has regularly appeared on Newsmax, a pro-Trump outlet, and Fox News. Wearing full uniform, Chell appeared on Newsmax from inside Madison Square Garden during Trump’s October 2024 campaign outlet at the arena.

Last year, The News reported that Chell — before being promoted to become the NYPD’s chief of department — was even considering quitting public service to join Newsmax as a paid political commentator. Since then, Chell has bolstered ties with Trump, including golfing with the president at his New Jersey club last month, while also attracting scrutiny from city oversight agencies over some of his political activities.

Chell, a registered independent voter, didn’t violate rules or laws by having his Texas tab picked up by Dr. Phil. Chell also regularly appears on media outlets seen as less partisan, including local and national TV stations.

Still, Manhattan Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a Democrat who’s the chairwoman of the Council’s Oversight Committee, argued Chell appearing on overtly pro-Trump outlets takes on a potentially problematic political overtone.

“It could be a problem to go on quasi news channels that are very conservative and Trump-oriented because it doesn’t look great for the police department,” said Brewer, whose committee has oversight to probe the NYPD. “But it is not illegal as far as I can tell.”

Ken Frydman, a longtime New York media consultant who has worked for several of the NYPD’s labor unions, agreed with Brewer, calling Chell’s Dr. Phil appearance “not only bad optics” but also “inappropriate.”

Senior police officials like Chell, Frydman added, shouldn’t engage in activities that could be construed as “public political positions” as that could send a signal that the NYPD as a whole is partisan.

Details about Chell’s Texas trip were included in his 2024 financial disclosure, provided to The News this month by the city Conflicts of Interest Board. The document shows Dr. Phil, a vocal Trump supporter whose real name is Phil McGraw, paid between $1,000 and $5,000 on “travel & lodging” for the chief.

The disclosure, which only offers a range as opposed to an exact dollar figure, says the trip had a “city-related” purpose, meaning Chell’s travel was considered an official government activity. Adams’ office has routinely said the city pays for expenditures related to official activities municipal employees engage in.

But an NYPD spokesperson noted the City Charter allows for officials to accept travel costs as a gift when “the trip is for a City purpose and therefore could properly be paid for with City funds.”

“The purpose of the trip was to exchange views regarding policing in America, including discussion regarding the challenges facing New York City amid the migrant crisis,” said the spokesperson, who didn’t provide the exact cost of Chell’s accommodations and airfare.

Earlier this year, the Department of Investigation determined that Chell violated NYPD guidelines by using his official social media accounts to go after political critics online, a finding that came after Chell had planned to deliver remarks at a Republican club meeting in Queens.

Then, earlier this month, it emerged the Department of Investigation has separately started looking into a complaint alleging Chell misused police resources by bringing his security detail along with him as he traveled to his Trump golf outing last month.

That complaint was filed by Rev. Kevin McCall, a Brooklyn civil rights activist and pastor. In response to Dr. Phil paying for Chell’s Texas trip, McCall said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch should “get a hold of this media monger.”

“This is an insult to every New Yorker who expects NYPD to be a public institution not a personal brand platform,” McCall said. “John Chell is being allowed to run rogue.”

Since Chell’s Texas trip, Dr. Phil has grown increasingly close with Adams and his administration.

Last month, the New York Times reported Dr. Phil introduced Adams to Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” who then proceeded to coordinate with administration officials on deportation raids that were called off by Tisch amid concerns they would have violated local sanctuary laws.

Recently, Dr. Phil’s TV network also signed a deal with Adams’ office to do a documentary called “Behind the Badge,” which is expected to highlight the work of the NYPD, specifically focusing on Chell and Kaz Daughtry, Adams’ deputy mayor for public safety.

Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak declined this month to share a copy of the Dr. Phil contract.

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