For any patrolman who elects to become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system under the provisions of this act and retires prior to July 1, 1975, the term final average salary means the average highest annual compensation paid to such member for service as a patrolman for any three of the five years immediately preceding such retirement, notwithstanding the definition of that term in K.S.A. 74-4952.
K.S.A. 74-4978c