Notwithstanding the provisions of section 43:16-1 of the Revised Statutes, any member who holds office, position, or employment as chief of a police department or as chief of a paid or part-paid fire department may be retained in service by the governing body of the municipality, or by the director of public safety if the municipality has such a director, until such member attains the age of seventy years.
N.J.S. § 43:16-1.1