FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHOSE PRIMARY DUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING, APPREHENDING, OR DETAINING PERSONS SUSPECTED OR CONVICTED OF FEDERAL CRIMES OR CONTROLLING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES OR MAINTAINING AND USING FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT ARE PERMITTED, BY 5 U.S.C. 8331-8339, TO VOLUNTARILY RETIRE AT AGE 50 AFTER 20 YEARS OF SUCH SERVICE. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1978 , THE LAW REQUIRES MANDATORY RETIREMENT OF SUCH EMPLOYEES AT AGE 55 OR UPON COMPLETION OF 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, WHICHEVER COMES LATER. IN COMPARISON, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE REGULAR CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT PROVISIONS ARE GENERALLY ELIGIBLE FOR VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT AT AGE 55 AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, AT AGE 60 AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, OR AT AGE 62 AFTER 5 YEARS OF SERVICE. RETIREMENT IS MANDATORY AT AGE 70 AFTER 15 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE. THE REPORT INDICATES THAT THE LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING EARLY RETIREMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THESE SERVICES BY HELPING TO MAINTAIN A YOUNG, VIGOROUS WORK FORCE. THE REPORT BELIEVES THIS GOAL CAN BE MET ADEQUATELY UNDER EXISTING PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURES. IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONGRESS REEVALUATE THE NEED FOR SPECIAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREFIGHTER PERSONNEL....RCB