Luke Coyne works in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office trial division that includes Glendale and Phoenix, and he continues to see how the pandemic has changed the community.

Arson-related cases are on the rise, and “the pandemic has acted as a catalyst, exacerbating underlying mental health and substance use issues that fuel these crimes,” the MCAO stated in a release announcing Coyne has been recognized as Attorney of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

“Retail theft and domestic violence have emerged as surprising components of this crime trend, redefining the motivations behind such actions.”

Originally from Chicago, Coyne is part of the MCAO trial division’s Glendale, Phoenix and Cactus Park Bureau, where he specializes in arson cases. 

He said he found inspiration in his father's passion for criminal justice.

After law school, Coyne worked as a firefighter for four years before moving to Arizona, and he began his career at MCAO about eight years ago. 

Coyne’s goal was to work on arson cases. When a position became available in 2018, he completed the mandatory IAAI training.

"It's been great to work in an office that supports my interests and has helped me grow my skills in this field," he said in the release.

Among his accomplishment, according to the MCAO, is the successful prosecution of a serial arsonist responsible for multiple out-of-state arson incidents.

“Through strategic utilization of the IAAI network, Luke collaborated with arson investigators in other states, revealing the defendant’s consistent pattern of behavior,” the release stated.

"It's heartbreaking to see people go through the crime and come out of it with nothing left of their home,” Coyne said. “Everything they've ever owned and cared for, including family heirlooms, photos and sometimes even pets, are lost."