Why some N.J. cops and firefighters might get to retire early with pensions Updated Mar 04, 2021; Nearly 8,000 New Jersey police and firefighters could become eligible to retire with a pension sooner than expected. A bill (S1017) passed by the state Assembly and sent to Gov. Phil Murphy this week would allow public safety workers who reach 20 years of service within 25 months of the effective date of the bill to retire with a pension, regardless of their age. Current law limits the early retirement benefit, the equivalent of half their salary, for public safety workers hired after January 2000 to those at least 55 years old. But unions say that’s because a 1999 law was misinterpreted by former Gov. Chris Christie’s administration.