A federal judge says he needs at least two more days to decide whether the Los Angeles Police Department is ready to be released from federal oversight.

U.S. District Judge Gary Feess issued a brief order Wednesday extending a consent decree between the Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice until Friday.

Such a decree is a binding settlement overseen by a monitor and federal judge. It was implemented in 2001 after the U.S. government threatened to sue the city over what it called a pattern of police abuse dating back decades. It was to expire Wednesday.

Feess has said he wants to ensure the Police Department is implementing all necessary reforms before oversight is ended.