Forced Retirement Delayed for N. J. Police, Fire Chiefs

NEWARK, N. J. —  A federal judge Friday temporarily barred New Jersey from forcing more than 100 police and fire chiefs to retire.

Mandatory retirement was to have taken effect Sunday, but the stay buys at least six more weeks on the job for between 100 and 200 chiefs who are 65 or older.

A federal age discrimination law specifically exempts line police officers and firefighters from protection against forced retirement at 65. However, lawyers for the chiefs have argued that their clients are chiefly administrators and should have protection of the anti-discrimination law.