As a public safety employee retiring at 48yo. Even thou I won't receive my pension until 50yo, does "separating from service" at 48 disqualify me from the tax exception?

The information reads:

Tax on Early Distributions: Additional exceptions for qualified retirement plans. 

The tax doesn’t apply to distributions that are: From a qualified retirement plan (other than an IRA) after your separation from service in or after the year you reached age 55 (age 50 for qualified public safety employees).