he study analyzes the experience of advanced democracies, as well as some postSoviet states that have implemented successful reforms and joined the European Union, on models for building a civil service system and the division of civil servants into categories, types and groups. It is noted that the civil service is classified according to various criteria, in accordance with the division by branches of government service is allocated in the legislative, executive, judicial branches, there is a division into civil, specialized and militarized civil service (the latter include police). It is emphasized that the specifics of the civil service system and, accordingly, the place of service in the police were influenced by a number of factors, namely the historical development of the state, the legal system, the form of the state. In accordance with such traditions, there are three groups of models of foreign civil service: organizational models with a division into centralized and decentralized, a model of openness with a division into career, job or open, Anglo-Saxon and continental (from the standpoint of Western civilization). It is also outlined that due to traditions in the world, the terms "civil service", "public service", "civil service" are interpreted differently. Specific examples of division into different categories of civil servants and the place among such division in France, Germany, Hungary are considered. Particular attention is paid to the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania, which regulates civil service and the place of service in the police in the general system. It is noted that police officers are statutory civil servants who are subject to special legislation determining the specifics of service, selection and dismissal, their system of ranks, etc., and who are not covered by the Law "On Civil Service" of the Republic of Lithuania.