The new position of Deputy Commissioner (Public Safety and Security) will bring specialists including the heavily armed Special Operations Group under Mr Guenther's sole command.
Mr Guenther was recently appointed president of a key international counter-terror leadership team and is a respected member of the international Five Eyes (UK,US,Canada,New Zealand and Australia) intelligence group.
Neil Paterson,the current Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Covert Support),has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner (Capability).
Mr Guenther and Mr Paterson join Deputy Commissioners Wendy Steendam and Rick Nugent in the force's senior echelon.
Mr Paterson will be charged with finding the numbers to increase street patrols,ramp up visible police presence and crack down on local criminals.
Mr Patton told The Age that community safety would be the"first,second and third priority".