New Jersey Statutes Title 40. Municipalities and Counties 40 § 47-20.9

Whenever it shall appear that any person was heretofore appointed to the police department or force of any municipality at a time when he was less than 21 years of age, and that he has served in said department or force continuously from the time of said appointment and for a period of at least 10 years prior to the effective date of this act  1 and is still in such service, and that he is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States during World War II, the governing body of such municipality may, within 6 months after the effective date of this act, validate, ratify and confirm the said appointment. In the event that such appointment shall be so validated, ratified or confirmed, such person shall be deemed to be and to have been a duly qualified member of such department or force, and shall have pension, tenure or service rights, from the date upon which he in fact attained the age of 21 years, all to the same effect as though he had been appointed on that date.