N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40A:9-117.9

Seniority for employees appointed as sheriff's officers pursuant to this act shall be calculated so as to include permanent time in grade in their former titles for civil service purposes. All employees who, on the effective date of this act, held provisional civil service status in a title the functions of which encompass duties set forth in section 1 of this act, shall be reclassified by the Civil Service Commission under the appropriate level sheriff's officer title and may continue in a provisional status pending the regular civil service examination process.