Emergency Service Unit

The Emergency Service Unit (ESU) is the multi-faceted and multi-talented element within municipal, county, or state authority law enforcement agency’s Special Operations command. ESU’s exist mainly in the regional New York City Area but includes several jurisdictions outside the region. ESU is also synonymous with the term Emergency Services Squad (ESS) and Emergency Service Detail (ESD). The ESU operates at the direction of the command staff and responds to emergency and high-risk situations that occur outside the scope of duties of responding patrol and criminal investigation units. ESU members train continually both in-house, with other local, state, Federal and military specialized units and sometimes members of a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Team. The ESU provides the Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) function for high-risk, tactical operations involving barricaded suspects, hostage situations, high-risk warrant service, tactical crowd control and dignitary/VIP protective operations. ESU’s also provide operations and technician level response to hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents involving the presence of industrial or illicit chemical, biological or radiological agents involving criminals or terrorists. The ESU responds to rescue victims from structural collapse, high-rise structure, confined spaces, trench collapse, vehicle and rail car accident, and machinery accident entrapments. Many ESU’s also perform both surface and under-water victim...
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