Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin was in town Tuesday, talking about gun violence and the measures President Barack Obama has proposed to curb it. 

This led reporters to ask Durbin  about some of Chicago’s most recent gun violence issues — police shootings — and how Mayor Rahm Emanuel has handled them.  

“He’s had his share of incidents and issues to face that occurred on his watch,” Durbin said. “But the overall problems — the police department, race and the administration of justice — these have been with us a long, long time.” 

Durbin didn’t talk directly about Emanuel’s handling of the LaQuan McDonald case, but said he’s been in touch with the mayor over the course of the recent controversy.

“I’m not going to stand in judgement of any single incident that the mayor was involved in, but I will say this: My conversations with him in the last several weeks tell me he’s focused on making the changes that will bring this city back together again,” Durbin said. “And I believe he has the competence, energy and determination to do that. And I’ll do anything I can to help.” 

Monica Eng is a WBEZ reporter. Follow her at @monicaeng or write to her at meng@wbez.org.