I was in Luxembourg recently, walking past the Police HQ and there was a mk1 Octavia estate diesel still in service.  They obviously looked after it as it looked good still in livery with lights on the roof.  I wish I'd thought to get a picture !

The police in Prague still use mk 1 fabias, mostly mk2 octavias though

Lincoln police still use mk1 octavias

The MkI Octavia was still in production long after the MkII was launched.

 

The reason for this was to cater for the MkI's loyal followers who still wanted a cheap, reliable, no frills work horse - taxi drivers.

 

In the UK the MkII launched in 2005, the MkI was still on sale (albeit through select non-retail channels) well into 2009.

 

This could make the Police car you saw a lot newer than expected.

 

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/65404-octavia-police-cars/

Yeah we got a load of taxi drivers round here in 07/8/9 plates MK1s 

The Luxembourg Police mostly used the usual Mondeos and Insignias as I remember so to see a Skoda was a pleasant surprise.

Kent Police still use a Mk1 Octi vRS, 03 plate (as far as I'm aware) former driving school car, used as a pool car when some of the other cars are off the road, in bright yellow and Battenberg markings. A couple of years back, I saw a West Mercia Police dog car, MK1 vRS, 06 plate.