Whenever a member of the Rhode Island state police, other than a civilian member, has been granted a leave of absence from the state police to enable him or her to serve in the armed forces of the United States in time of war or national emergency, the time during which he or she so serves while on leave of absence shall be included in his or her state police service for retirement as provided in § 42-28-22, except when the member shall have been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces.