HOUSTON -- A Houston police officer assigned to desk duty after he spoke out against the department's chase policy was fired, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

Thomas Nixon was originally assigned to desk duty before he was fully suspended from the department after he wrote an opinion column about the department's chase policy.

The criticisms came after a high-speed pursuit on Jan. 18 ended in a head-on crash on a Highway 59 freeway ramp near Kirby Drive.

A hearing was held in February and the judge denied Nixon's motion to speak publicly in uniform on matters of public concern. Nixon said his right to free speech was violated and he wanted his old job back.

The department has contended that Nixon was 20 minutes late to a 911 call because he was talking to the media. But, Nixon said other problems stopped him from getting to the call sooner.

HPD did not release details of the firing.

Nixon plans to file a First Amendment lawsuit against the department and appeal the firing to the civil service commission.