Section 4519 - Reduction in number of policemen, firemen or fire inspectors; reinstatement If, for reasons of economy or other reasons, it shall be deemed necessary by the board of county commissioners to reduce the number of policemen in the police force or firemen or fire inspectors, then such reduction in numbers shall be made in the following manner:
(1) if there are any policemen, firemen or fire inspectors eligible for retirement under the terms of any retirement or pension system or law, then such reduction in numbers shall be made by retirement, if the party to be retired has served in the police force or as a fireman or fire inspector for a period of at least twenty-five years and [reached the age of fifty-five years or over] his age exceeds the maximum age as defined in the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L. 744, No. 222), known as the "Pennsylvania Human Relations Act"; (2) if the number of policemen, firemen or fire inspectors eligible for retirement is insufficient to effect the reduction in numbers decided upon by the board of county commissioners, or if no retirement or pension system or law exists, or if there are no policemen, firemen or fire inspectors eligible for retirement or pension, then the reduction shall be made by furloughing the last policeman, fireman or fire inspector, including the probationers, that have been appointed to the police force or as fireman or fire inspector, and continue in numerical order until the reduction decided upon by the board of county commissioners has been effected. In any case where there has been more than one employe appointed at the same time, then such furloughing shall be determined by the standing on the civil service list as hired, the individual having the lowest civil service score to be furloughed first. In the event the said police force, firemen or fire inspectors shall again be increased in numbers, then the employes furloughed shall be reinstated, in the inverse order of that in which they were furloughed, before any new appointments shall be made to the police force or as firemen or fire inspectors.1953, July 28, P.L. 723, art. XV, § 1519. Amended 1963, Aug. 13, P.L. 662, § 3, effective 1/1/1964; 1974, Dec. 30, P.L. 1154, No. 367, § 1, imd. effective; 1984, May 9, P.L. 261, No. 61, § 1, effective in 60 days.