HARTFORD, Conn. -- City officials offered limited responses Thursday when asked about Mayor Eddie Perez's ties to a firefighter recently let go after he was charged with a hit-and-run.

John Thomas, 42, was in his probationary period with the Hartford Fire Department when he was charged in connection with a hit-and-run that occurred last Month. He had just graduated from the Hartford Fire Academy.

Mayor: 'I've Known Firefighter For 20 Years'

The Channel 3 I-Team obtained records earlier in the week indicating that Thomas used Perez has a reference on his application for admission to the academy and that he had worked on the mayor's election campaign in 2001.

"I've known John for about 20 years," Perez said.

The former head of the fire academy has made allegations that he was recently fired because he didn't pass through unqualified candidates that were politically connected.

"I know there are applicants with 10 years firefighting experience -- class one, class two -- I didn't get involved in the selection of the fire class," Perez said. "The chief was in charge of that, and human resources."

But Fire Chief Charles Teale refused to answer questions about the I-Team investigation.

"I'm not going to answer any (questions)," he said. "Thank you very much for asking."

When asked if he thought it was right to hire Thomas given everything that's happened, Perez said, "I think you should ask the fire chief. He's the one that does the hiring, OK?"

Thomas, who is due in court next week on the hit-and-run charges, wasn't available for comment.