(a) Any person employed as an investigator for the District Attorney of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, composed of Cherokee and DeKalb Counties, for a period of 10 years or more who leaves office in good standing, by retirement or otherwise, shall receive from the office, at the discretion of the district attorney, without cost to him or her, his or her service pistol and badge.
(b) Investigators for the District Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit shall be employed under the general law pursuant to Section 12-17-220.1.