Section 36-22-40
Eligibility.
Any sheriff or former sheriff of any county of this state who has had 20 years of service as a law-enforcement officer, 16 of which have been as a sheriff, and who has reached the age of 55 years shall be eligible to participate and receive benefits under the Sheriffs’ Retirement System as provided in this article.
(Acts 1975, No. 1231, p. 2591, §1.)