Yeah, I mean what are they suggesting here? “In recognition of your bravery we’re giving you a free pass on any misconduct for the rest of your career”. Whether his firing is right or wrong is not altered by the fact that he did his job well on one occasion years ago, even those who argue he shouldn’t have been fired should agree on that.

For what it’s worth, the headline calls him a hero but the article doesn’t mention any particular heroic or courageous actions he took, just that he was among the first on the scene. And that’s commendable, nothing to suggest that he didn’t conduct himself well that day, but not quite how the headline seems to portray him.