The Port Authority Police Department formed its K-9 Explosive Detection Unit in the fall of 1996 in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island that summer. The department subsequently expanded the unit to include a K-9 Narcotics Detection Unit.

The K-9 unit, which consists of 33 police officers, two sergeants, one inspector and 33 dogs, patrols all Port Authority facilities on a 24-hour basis.

Port Authority Police officers who are members of the K-9 unit must pass a challenging and demanding physical, a physical agility course, participate in a group interview and complete a minimum of 400 hours of K-9 training.

The most popular dog in the unit is the German Shepherd. The unit also has Labradors, a Belgium Shepherd and a Golden Retriever. The dogs are trained to detect either explosives or narcotics, but not both.

The unit currently has 25 dogs trained to detect explosives, including 12 certified by the federal Transportation Security Administration. There are eight dogs trained in narcotics detection.

The K-9 explosive detection teams patrol and search aircraft, airline and cargo buildings, bus terminals, subway stations, vehicles, and unattended luggage and packages. The K-9 narcotic detection teams patrol and perform a variety of searches at Port Authority facilities and are also used by other government agencies.