Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary relating to the qualification required for appointment to any municipal police force, any person holding position of employment as a housing guard or housing patrolman on the effective date of this act in any city of the second class with a population of more than 140,000 inhabitants, according to the 1970 federal census, in any county of the second class or in any city of the second class with a population of more than 52,000 but less than 55,000 inhabitants, according to the 1980 federal census, in a county of the second class on the effective date of this 1985 amendatory and supplementary act, who was appointed to such position of employment after examination in accordance with the provisions of Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes, may be appointed by any such city under the title of housing police officer and shall be certified as such by the Civil Service Commission without further examination. Such person shall, from the effective date of this act, hold his position of employment subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes.
N.J.S. § 40A:14-146.2