A member who has attained the age of 55 and who immediately prior to retirement has 20 years of creditable service as a law enforcement officer, shall be eligible for service retirement as a law enforcement officer. Any member in service who is a law enforcement officer at the time of attaining age 65 years shall be retired on a service retirement allowance forthwith or on the first day of the next calendar month, as is determined by the board of trustees; provided, however, any law enforcement officer who is a veteran shall not be retired at age 65 years if he does not have 20 years of service in office, position or employment of this State, or of any county, municipality or school district, but such veteran member shall be retired upon the completion of such 20 years of service or upon attaining age 70 years, whichever is earlier; and provided, further, that any member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System who was a member of the Prison Officers’ Pension Fund on the date of termination of said fund and who elected not to obtain credit as a law enforcement officer shall not be required to retire on account of age until age 70.

L.1955, c. 257, p. 941, s. 3. Amended by L.1956, c. 55, p. 108, s. 2; L.1959, c. 170, p. 701, s. 3.