The Port Authority Police Emergency Services Unit was founded in 1983, when the bi-state agency's police force purchased a specially equipped vehicle used primarily to respond to motor vehicle and PATH train incidents.

The vehicle was acquired following a fire on the PATH system in 1982 that prompted the department's leadership to call for the formation of an emergency response team with specific knowledge of the PATH system. The initial team members were trained in underground rescue, extrication of passengers from PATH train cars and first aid.

Emergency Services Unit Members, who have received specialized training to respond to emergency and rescue operations that arise at Port Authority facilities or in other jurisdictions when their expertise is requested are currently assigned to various facilities throughout the Port Authority. Emergency Services Unit members may receive training in the following areas; animal control, hazardous material response, heavy weapon use, bridge and water rescue and tactical operations.

Noteworthy cases that the Emergency Services Unit has handled or other jurisdictions in handling include:
* The collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001
* The 1993 World Trade Center bombing
* The rescue of an emotionally disturbed person from a water tower in West New York, N.J.
* A General Aviation crash in the City of Newark
* The rescue of homeowners in Bound Brook, N.J. trapped by rising floodwaters caused by Hurricane Floyd in 1999
* A ceiling collapse at the Journal Square Transportation Center
* Water rescues from the PATH system in 1992
* A NJ Transit train accident in the Hackensack Meadowlands in 1996